Marlon Jackson is finally opening up about the death of his brother Tito Jackson.
In a video posted to TikTok during one of The Jacksons’ latest performance in Atlantic City over the weekend, Marlon detailed his last moments with his late brother and explained the heartbreaking moment he found out his brother passed. As previously reported by The Root, the beloved member of The Jackson 5 and elder sibling to Michael and Janet Jackson, died at age 70 after suffering a heart attack.
Speaking to the crowd over the weekend, Marlon said:
“The thing about it is that, Tito had called me and we were on the phone laughing and joking, cracking jokes. An hour later, I got a phone call, I talked to the doctor and they told me he didn’t make it. I said what do you mean? His friend called me and told me ‘Tito is in the hospital and they’re working on him.’”
Marlon went on to say how doctor’s put in a breathing tube to help his brother but it was ultimately to no avail. What’s more, Marlon then panned to a part of the stage that held a microphone stand that was adorned with one of Tito’s jackets and his bowl hat and asked the crowd to engage in a moment of silence while his brother Jackie and nephew Taryll quietly held back their emotions behind him.
“On Sept. 10, 2001, we had our last show with our brother Michael. On Sept 10, 2024 -last show with Tito,” Marlon said before breaking down into tears.
Tito’s death followed the deaths of fellow Hollywood legends such as singer Frankie Beverly and iconic actor James Earl Jones.