Coronavirus: The Michael Jackson estate donates $300,000 to initiatives

‘This virus strikes at the heart of the communities we are close to’

The musical is scheduled to open 6 July (MJ YouTube)

The Michael Jackson estate has donated $300,000 to charities helping people affected by Covid-19.

According to Deadline, the money is to be split equally between the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS’ COVID-19 Emergency Assistance fund, the non-profit music organisation MusiCares and Three Square food bank, based in Las Vegas.

John Branca and John McClain, the co-executors of the estate explained the reasoning behind their decision in a statement on Tuesday.

“This virus strikes at the heart of the communities we are close to. We learned today that the legendary Manu Dibango passed away from the virus. Other performers and support staff in music and on Broadway are sick or have been left without work and are facing an uncertain future,” the statement read.

“And in Las Vegas, which has been so welcoming to Michael Jackson, the entire city has been shut down leaving thousands of workers and their families devastated and without an income.”

The outlet reported that the late Mr Dibango was the songwriter and saxophonist on the 1972 song, Soul Masakka, which Jackson later adapted into his 1982 hit, Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.

The estate of Michael Jackson is co-producer of the upcoming Broadway musical, MJ the Musical, scheduled to open 6 July, which is the story of Jackson’s life, featuring his music and lyrics.

Broadway theatre performances closed down in early March after New York governor Andrew Cuomo banned gatherings of more than 500 people.

The Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS’ COVID-19 Emergency Assistance fund was set up in order to help staff whose income and healthcare availability is affected by the closure.

According to a tracking project hosted by Johns Hopkins University, upwards of 61,167 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the US. The death toll has reached at least 849.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended a two-week ban on gatherings of more than 50 people as part of the battle to contain the spread of the contagion.