Prior to his passing on June 25, 2009, the Smooth Criminal artist faced numerous sexual abuse allegations starting in 1993. During that period, the Los Angeles Police Department initiated an investigation into claims that he had molested children, including a 13-year-old boy named Jordan Chandler.
In September 2013, the family of the teenager filed a lawsuit against Jackson, accusing him of repeatedly “committing sexual battery” on the child. Jackson’s legal team argued that the lawsuit was an attempt to extort $20 million from the singer.
Later that year, in December, La Toya Jackson, the songwriter’s estranged sibling, claimed that the sexual abuse allegations were “true.”
“This is very difficult for me,” La Toya stated at a press conference in Tel Aviv. “Michael is my brother. … But I cannot, and I will not, be a silent collaborator of his crimes against small, innocent children.”
As the accusations grew, the Thriller singer issued a four-minute statement from his Neverland Ranch in Los Olivos, asserting, “I am not guilty of these allegations, but if I am guilty of anything, it is of giving all that I have to give to help children all over the world. It is of loving children of all ages and races. It is of gaining sheer joy from seeing children with their innocent and smiling faces. It is of enjoying through them the childhood that I missed myself.”
Michael continued, “If I am guilty of anything, it is of believing what God said about little children: ‘Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for such is the kingdom of heaven.'”
The renowned performer reached a civil settlement with the Chandler family outside of court for a reported $25 million.
The accusations continued, however. Jason Francia, whose mother worked as a housekeeper for Jackson, alleged he was also molested by the artist, increasing the total number of alleged victims to five. The other three boys who accused him were Wade Robson, Gavin Arvizo, and Jimmy “James” Safechuck.
In 2013, Robson and James filed lawsuits against Michael’s estate and companies, but these were dismissed several times. Their allegations were later featured in the two-part documentary Leaving Neverland, aired in 2019.
In 2023, a California appeals court reinstated both lawsuits, allowing them to proceed to trial against MJJ Productions Inc. and MJJ Ventures Inc.
The sexual abuse claims resurfaced when the Cascio siblings filed a lawsuit against Michael’s estate and companies in February, alleging years of sexual abuse. Their complaint also included allegations of child s-x trafficking, breach of contract, fraud, negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The siblings are seeking financial compensation and a ruling to void an agreement they assert Michael’s employees forced them to sign under false pretenses to silence them about the “years of abuse they endured.”
In response, Michael’s estate attorney Marty Singer stated, “The Cascios are the epitome of unreliable sources. Their stories have repeatedly shifted and changed to suit whatever their current agenda happens to be.”
