In the ongoing saga of Michael Jackson’s Siblings vs. Michael Jackson’s Other Siblings, we used to have Jermaine, Randy, Janet, Rebbie and Tito on the “challenging the executors” aka “money grab” side, and Marlon and Jackie on the other side. (La Toya remained neutral and urged her family to keep it out of the press.) Around the time that Katherine Jackson was whisked away for an impromptu spa trip without telephone or internet access, Tito switched sides and issued a plea, along with Marlon and Jackie, to have his mother returned home to MJ’s children. Now another Jackson has switched sides. Jermaine, who was one of the three Jacksons who went to MJ’s children’s house to urge the kids to take a little trip to Arizona, has apologized for his part in that well publicized incident. He’s also withdrawing his name from the statement challenging the will and its current executors. Here’s Jermaine’s statement:
In a statement posted to Jermaine’s Twitter account, he says, “After much soul-searching, it is clearly time for us to live by Michael’s words about love not war. In this spirit, I offer this statement by way of extending an olive-branch. Accordingly, I rescind my signature from the letter which was sent to the Estate, and which should never have gone public. I still hold deep reservations about many issues involving the Estate, and I will continue to bring scrutiny and a resolute voice wherever we have cause for concern. But the way to address such matters is through the proper channels and via a private dialogue, not public conflict.”
As previously reported, Randy Jackson was responsible for hatching a family plot to overthrow Michael Jackson’s executors in an attempt to get his hands on part of the late King of Pop’s estimated $1 billion fortune. A letter demanding the executors’ resignation that was leaked to the media, was signed by Randy, Jermaine, Tito, Rebbie and Janet. Tito Jackson publicly said last week he also regretted signing the letter.
Jermaine also admits that Michael’s three children, Prince, Paris and Blanket were unable to talk to their then legal guardian, Katherine Jackson while she was away in Arizona.
“When she was away, and with the children in the responsible care of Tito’s son TJ, there was never a malicious attempt to ‘block’ the kids from talking with her. We simply worried that a call home would first entail, or lead to, conversations with individuals we are in dispute with and that would, therefore, increase pressure on Mother — and pressure was what a doctor said she didn’t need. This was why we went to the house in Calabasas to talk directly with the kids and merely discuss arrangements for them to meet with their grandmother. We were denied that access by security — and it was clear that mutual suspicions had allowed events to spiral out of control. I regret that events were ever allowed to reach such a stage. I regret any distress caused to Prince, Paris and Blanket. That was never, ever the intention of myself, Janet, Rebbie or Randy. Moving forward, the most effective way to best serve Mother’s welfare, and that of Michael’s children, is to start a collective dialogue, in private,” Jermaine revealed.
Jermaine ends the statement by saying, “Mistakes have been made and irrational things have been said on both sides in a highly-charged emotional environment. It is time for us all to draw a line in the sand and move towards peace, co-operation, love and healing. I truly hope that we can find it in our hearts to do so. Because above and beyond anything else, what matters…is family.”
[From Radar]
That was very well written and explains how the situation escalated – both sides didn’t trust the other’s intentions. (Radar has a breakdown on how Jermaine is fudging the truth, but I’m not going to get into that, you can read it there.) I’m still on “team kids,” because it seems like they were just defending themselves against an ambush, one their dad may have even prepared them for. For now they seem to be calling a truce. Paris, Prince and Blanket even went to see their uncles perform in the Unity Tour over the weekend. The Unity Tour consists of Tito, Jackie, Marlon and Jermaine Jackson, who are not-so-coincidentally all on the same side now that Jermaine has withdrawn his support from challenging the will.
Some of you have floated the theory that the executors are paying themselves exorbitant salaries and that’s why MJ’s siblings are so vocally speaking out against it. Even if that’s true, Michael made it clear that he didn’t want his brothers or sisters to get a dime. They’re fighting over money that doesn’t belong to them and probably never will. Radar recently reported that Randy, the ringleader on the money grab side, owes half a million dollars in child support. Jermaine owes child support too, to the same woman, Alejandra, since he married her and had two children with her after Randy broke up with her by marrying another woman without Alejandra’s knowledge. (You can’t make this up, read Wikipedia.) Both brothers have asked MJ’s estate to pay child support to their children from the same woman.
As for Janet’s claims that she isn’t in this for money and is just trying to show solidarity with Randy or something, US Weekly says she’s broke. In their latest issue they have source who claims Janet “has spent far more than she has made, so she needs the money.” Their source also adds that Janet isn’t a doting aunt to MJ’s kids and has “seen them maybe five times since Michael died and has no relationship with them.” Except when it comes to telling them what they should do, right?
Most of these photos are from the Unity Tour on 7-20-12. Credit: WENN.com
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLHLnpmirJOdxm%2BvzqZma2xjaYZ5e8meqaaZmaOyoLbAnKKsp56UrrG7y6ieorKVqKynu9GYmKaapai1qrrGmKSjq4%2BgtqW%2FvqemmKSfo7Smvr6cn5qknJq7qLHSmJyxnZOqwbC%2B0mg%3D