Elizabeth Taylor on why she won’t be at Staples Center for Michael Jackson’s memorial service today

Elizabeth Taylor has tweeted about her plans for today’s public Michael Jackson memorial.

She won’t be there.

The two-time Oscar winner is devastated by the loss of one of her closest friends and took to Twitter on Monday to express her feelings about the memorial that more than 1 million people wanted to attend:  “I’ve been asked to speak at the Staples Center. I cannot be part of the public whoopla.”

“And I cannot guarantee that I would be coherent to say a word,” she added.

Taylor also Tweeted: “I just don’t believe that Michael would want me to share my grief with millions of others. How I feel is between us. Not a public event.”

She then wrote, “I said I wouldn’t go to the Staples Center and I certainly don’t want to become a part of it. I love him too much.”

Taylor’s final Tweet on the topic: “My love goes out to [Michael’s mother] Katherine and Michael’s beloved children.”

This is so clearly a deeply personal loss for the 77-year-old icon, not a public one.