The Ongoing Legal Battle Over Michael Jackson’s Estate
The ongoing legal battle over the estate of Michael Jackson has taken a new turn, with Paris Jackson’s younger brother, Blanket, reportedly entering the fray. This development adds another layer to the conflict between Paris and the co-executors of their late father’s estate, John Branca and John McClain.
In legal documents reviewed by Daily Mail, the executors claimed that Paris, 28, was responsible for the collapse of a deal that she and her brothers—Blanket, 24, and Prince, 29—had previously agreed upon in late last month. According to the executors, the team representing Blanket, now known as Bigi, had been working to reach a pact that would be acceptable to all parties involved.
The executors stated that they believed an agreement had been reached, spearheaded by the efforts of counsel for Bigi Jackson, who had communicated via email that he spoke for all three siblings and their counsel on the issues. However, things took a different turn when lawyers for Paris “inexplicably reversed their position entirely and reneged on the agreement that was acceptable to all other parties.”
Daily Mail has since reached out to representatives for both sides for further comment on the story.
A Last-Minute Withdrawal
Paris pulled out of the deal just when it was about to close, according to the executors’ court filings. She insisted on a list of demands that were “radically different from what the parties had seemingly agreed to just a week prior.” The issue centered around the systems used for the accounting, which Paris has claimed in court filings required more oversight.
One of the stipulations in the revised pact was an agreement from the executors to gain approval from the court for all bonus payments submitted to law firms that do work for the estate. The executors said they are open to the earlier proposal but not the one Paris set forth. They added that they have “never violated [any] court orders, and this court has never held otherwise.”
A source close to Paris told Daily Mail that “from the moment she filed an objection, Paris Jackson has been the victim of a disgusting, outrageous smear campaign by the executors and their attorneys.” The source claimed that these lawyers are using Jackson family resources to mock, belittle, and attack her for demanding transparency and accountability from those who control every aspect of her family’s finances.
A Misleading Narrative
According to the source, the notion that a comprehensive agreement was close to happening was misleading. “To be clear, there was never any deal on the table from any party that would have settled all issues between Paris and the executors,” the source said.
The source also highlighted that “when there was a proposal regarding attorney compensation, the executors and their well-compensated attorneys fought to water it down with exceptions and loopholes that would render it unworkable. Their demands would have allowed executors and those same attorneys to continue operating without any accountability.”
The Legacy of Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson died at the age of 50 on June 25, 2009, after suffering a cardiac arrest in the Los Angeles mansion he was living in. Authorities in February 2010 determined his death was the result of acute propofol intoxication. Jackson had been administered the powerful drug by his personal doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray, who told investigators that the singer called the substance (which he took via an IV drip) “milk” and said he needed it to sleep.
Jackson’s death sparked a tidal wave of international tributes from fans, both in person and on burgeoning social media platforms. His family, including his three children—who had not been seen publicly without masks on prior to that time—were present for a highly-viewed July 7, 2009 memorial at the Crypto.com Arena (then known as the Staples Center) in Los Angeles.
“I just wanted to say, ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine—and I just wanted to say I love him so much,” Paris, then 11, said at the emotional service.
A private funeral for Jackson’s family and friends was held in Glendale, California at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Eventually, Murray’s care of Jackson fell under scrutiny after the singer’s death, amid questions about his judgment in giving Jackson the substance in certain doses and not meeting safety precautions in administering the drug.
Jackson’s death was ultimately deemed a homicide by investigators, and in November of 2011—more than two years after his death—Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to four years in prison.
A Lasting Impact
Jackson had an unprecedented career in music, as one of the best-selling artists of all time, who won 13 Grammys over 38 nominations. Honors included Best Male R&B Vocal Performance on Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough in 1980, Album of the Year for Thriller in 1984, and Record of the Year for Beat It the same year. He was also given the Grammy Legend Award in 1993, and posthumously, The Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010. He had been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.
