. '' Watch fans gather in Berlin '' South African former president Nelson Mandela paid his respects to Jackson in a statement read to the audience at the Los Angeles memorial by singer Smokey Robinson . Watch Smokey Robinson deliver Mandela 's message . '' `` Michael became close to us after he started visiting and performing in South Africa regularly . We grew fond of him and he became a close member of our family . We had great admiration for his talent and that he was able to triumph over tragedy on so many occasions in his life , '' Mandela said . `` We mourn with the millions of families worldwide . '' In the southern Chinese enclave of Hong Kong , fans carried flowers and Jackson paraphernalia , such as a doll and record , at a memorial . Watch Jackson tributes pour in from around the world '' `` I can not accept MJ has already left us , and I think we should come here and do something for him and express our feeling to show that we really miss him , '' said one man . Hundreds of British fans in London braved
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Fans around the world have gathered at arenas and record stores , big screens , parks and makeshift shrines , to watch the memorial service of Michael Jackson and pay homage to their idol . A Michael Jackson fan in Berlin watches footage of the memorial concert . As thousands of fans joined Jackson 's family and closest friends at Los Angeles Staples Center arena , millions more followed proceedings on television and online . In Germany , at least 8,000 Jackson fans watched events in Los Angeles unfold at a Trauerfeier , '' -LRB- translated as Sadness Party -RRB- at Berlin 's O2 World arena , reported CNN 's Frederik Pleitgen . Fans began arriving at least three hours before the event was due to begin , Pleitgen said . `` He -LSB- Jackson -RSB- connects races , religions and ages , '' said one fan , `` his music connects the world . '' Many fans were moved to tears when Jackson 's daughter Paris Katherine wept as she called the singer `` the best father you could ever imagine . '' Pleitgen added : `` A lot of people got very wet eyes