Elvis Presley's Memphis Crypt Pulled From Auction After Worldwide Outcry

The Crypt of Elvis Presley in the Forest Hill Cemetery, Memphis, Tennessee, was set to be auctioned off as part of Music Icons on June 23rd & 24th, 2012, at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills, California. However, following on from a worldwide outcry from Elvis' fans, the proposed auction has been called off according to The Washington Post.

Presley was interred there alongside his mother, Gladys, after he died Aug. 16, 1977, and later reburied at his home in Graceland, Memphis. Since then the crypt has remained empty and was due to be auctioned off to benefit Music Icons, however this will be called off, as fans want to see it continue to be retained as a monument to the influential singer.

Julien's Auctions announced back in May that it would sell the empty tomb, insisting that they were planning to wait "until Forest Hills finds a plan that best suits the interests of the fans while respecting and preserving the memory of Elvis Presley." Any plans to sell and move the tomb have been completely scraped now however, as fans have seen it as a mark of disrespect towards the Presley family. It will continue to remain in Forest Hill Cemetery as a shrine or the foreseeable future.