Michael Jackson’s “second family” alleges sexual abuse of four kids in new lawsuit as biopic opens strong at box office

A lawyer for the estate, Marty Singer, issued a statement to THRcalling the family’s claims a “desperate money grab,” and added, “The family staunchly defended Michael Jackson for more than 25 years, attesting to his innocence of inappropriate conduct. This new court filing is a transparent forum-shopping tactic in their scheme to obtain hundreds of millions of dollars from Michael’s estate and companies.”

The family, according to The Hollywood Reporteralso said that watching the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland helped them process their past experiences and encouraged them to come forward. The documentary had previously featured separate abuse allegations against Jackson.

The new complaint, as per the publication, includes several disturbing allegations, describing Jackson as a “serial child predator who, over the course of more than a decade, drugged, raped and sexually assaulted each of the plaintiffs, beginning when some of them were as young as seven or eight,” and claims he “groomed and brainwashed” them, offering “obsessive attention, lavish gifts, access to his celebrity lifestyle, and declarations that he loved and needed each of them.”

Michael Jackson, one of the biggest music stars in history, died in 2009. His legacy remains deeply divided, with fans celebrating his music while legal battles and abuse allegations continue to cast a shadow over his name.

Meanwhile, the new biopic Michael is expected to perform strongly at the box office this weekend.