With the late King of Pop Michael Jackson having passed away in 2009, his biographical film "Michael" is scheduled for release in April, bringing decades-old sexual abuse controversies back into the spotlight. A shocking new lawsuit was recently submitted to a U.S. court, reigniting international public attention.
According to U.S. media reports, four members of the Cascios family—who were closely associated with Jackson during his lifetime—submitted a 23-page complaint to the court, accusing Jackson of allegedly luring, drugging, and sexually assaulting them while they were minors, with one of them being only seven years old at the time. The Cascios claim that Jackson gained their trust by giving them expensive gifts, inviting them on tour, providing a celebrity lifestyle experience, and forming emotional bonds. He allegedly invited them to spend major holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and birthdays together. The lawsuit also alleges that he showed pornographic films and nude child photos to the minors, and used threats to demand their silence.
During his lifetime, Jackson faced sexual assault accusations in both 1993 and 2005. The 1993 case ended in a civil settlement, and in 2005 he was acquitted after a criminal trial in California. The new lawsuit also notes that in 2019, members of the Cascios family signed a nondisclosure agreement with the Jackson estate management, agreeing not to reveal their relationship. However, the four siblings now assert that they signed the agreement without understanding their legal rights, and are seeking to have its validity re-examined.
In response, Marty Singer, legal counsel for the Michael Jackson Estate, issued a forceful statement denouncing the allegations and criticizing the lawsuit as a "money grab." In interviews, Singer pointed out that the Cascios have publicly supported Jackson for the past 25 years, and now their story has changed dramatically, calling their motives and timing into question. The court has scheduled a follow-up hearing on the 5th. With the movie's release approaching, this lawsuit is bound to reignite legal battles and bring renewed global attention to Jackson's legacy and controversies.
News source: United Daily News