Michael Jackson's estate faces new abuse claims from former defenders
Four siblings have filed a class action lawsuit against Michael Jackson's estate, accusing the late pop star of years of sexual abuse. Edward, Dominic, Marie-Nicole, and Aldo Cascio claim they were groomed, drugged, and assaulted from as young as seven years old. Their legal action follows a 2019 settlement they now seek to overturn.
The Cascio siblings first publicly defended Jackson in 2010, appearing on Oprah to deny any wrongdoing. But their new lawsuit details a decade of alleged abuse, including claims that Jackson molested one sibling at the homes of Elizabeth Taylor and Elton John. Staff members reportedly helped hide the abuse by booking the parents' hotel rooms far from their children.
The siblings allege Jackson used alcohol, drugs, and code phrases to manipulate them into compliance. They also claim he showed them pornography and images of naked children to desensitise them. According to the lawsuit, Jackson even convinced their parents to withdraw two siblings from school to prevent them from revealing the abuse.
In 2019, the family reached a confidential settlement with Jackson's estate, receiving $690,000 annually for five years. Now, they are challenging that agreement, seeking further compensation for the alleged abuse and cover-up.
The lawsuit names high-profile locations and figures, including Elizabeth Taylor's Swiss home and Elton John's British residence, as sites of the alleged abuse. The siblings' legal challenge could reopen scrutiny of past settlements and Jackson's relationships with minors. Their case now moves forward in court.
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