Legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor, usually never too far from the spotlight, has been very private during her grieving over her friend Michael Jackson's death.

She opted not to attend his Los Angeles memorial this week and has kept her comments about Jackson's passing brief.

In fact, Taylor, 77, has been using the newest wave of "computer messaging," called Twitter, (a huge communication trend that allows people to send out brief messages via computers and cell phones to millions of people with the click of a button), to release her statements this week about Jackson.

(Even I'm not hooked up on Twitter, so Taylor is certainly employing a young staff of assistants these days who keep her up on the times!)

According to accounts: "A grief-stricken Dame Elizabeth Taylor hit her Twitter account late Monday to confirm that she will not attend Tuesday's public memorial to her late friend, Michael Jackson. Despite being asked to participate in the event at the Staples Center in Los Angeles tomorrow, Elizabeth says she has turned down the invitation out of her love for the star."

"I've been asked to speak at the Staples Center," Taylor Tweeted Monday.

"I cannot be part of the public whoopla. And I cannot guarantee that I would be coherent to say a word," she wrote a moment later via the computer messaging service.

"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. 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. My love goes out to [Michael's mother] Katherine and Michael's beloved children."

She also conveyed her displeasure with tabloid reports that she's so distraught over Jackson's death that she's on suicide watch.

"I will always love Michael from the depth of my being and nothing can separate us," Liz wrote.

"I am a survivor not only for myself, but for my family and for Michael too. Although my grief over Michael could not be any deeper, I am not on suicide watch as some of the cheaper 'rags' would have you believe."

In October 1991, Jackson hosted Taylor's eighth wedding, to Larry Fortensky, at his Neverland Ranch.

The last public photos of Taylor and Jackson together at a major event was in March 2002, when the two attended friend Liza Minnelli's wedding in New York.

When Jackson died June 25 at age 50, Taylor's publicist described the movie star as "devastated."

During that day's news coverage, Larry King reported on his CNN show the following: "Dame Elizabeth Taylor is too devastated by the passing of her dear friend Michael Jackson to issue a statement at this time," while also revealing she had already made flight arrangements to go to London this month to attend the opening concert launch of his new summer tour.

After a few days, she did issue the following statement:

"My heart, my mind are broken. I loved Michael with all my soul and I can't imagine life without him. We had so much in common and we had such loving fun together. I was packing up my clothes to go to London for his opening when I heard the news. I still can't believe it. I don't want to believe it. It can't be so. He will live in my heart forever but it's not enough. My life feels so empty. I don't think anyone knew how much we loved each other. The purest most giving love I've ever known. Oh God! I'm going to miss him. I can't yet imagine life without him. But I guess with God's help, I'll learn. I keep looking at the photo he gave me of himself, which says, 'To my true love Elizabeth, I love you forever.' And, I will love HIM forever."

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at philip.potempa@nwi.com or 219.852.4327.

Today's Celebrity Birthdays

Actor James Hampton ("F Troop") is 73. Actor Brian Dennehy is 71. Actor Richard Roundtree is 67. Actor Chris Cooper is 58. TV personality-turned-musician John Tesh is 57. Country singer David Ball is 56. Singer Debbie Sledge of Sister Sledge is 54. Actor Jimmy Smits is 54. Actor Tom Hanks is 53. Singer Marc Almond of Soft Cell and actress Kelly McGillis are 52. Singer Jim Kerr of Simple Minds is 50. Singer Courtney Love is 45. Bassist Frank Bello of Anthrax and actor David O'Hara ("The District") are 44. Drummer Xavier Muriel of Buckcherry is 41. Actor Scott Grimes ("ER," "Party of Five") is 38. Actor Fred Savage and singer Dan Estrin of Hoobastank are 33. Singer-actress Kiely Williams of 3LW ("Cheetah Girls" films) is 23. Actor Mitchel Musso ("Hannah Montana") is 18. Actress Georgie Henley ("The Chronicles of Narnia") is 14.