A look at Michael Jackson’s biggest scandals
Before his death on June 25, 2009, the Smooth criminal hitmaker was the subject of multiple sexual abuse allegations beginning in 1993. At the time, the Los Angeles Police Department launched an investigation into allegations that he abused children, including a 13-year-old boy named Jordan Chandler.
The teen’s family sued Jackson in September 2013, accusing the pop star of repeatedly performing “sexual acts” on the child. In response, Jackson’s team claimed that the lawsuit was an attempt to extort the singer for $20 million.
In December of the same year, La Toya Jackson, the songwriter’s then brother, claimed that the sexual abuse allegations were “true.”
“This is very difficult for me,” La Toya claimed at a press conference in Tel Aviv. ‘Michael is my brother. But I cannot and will not be a silent collaborator in his crimes against small, innocent children.”
The mounting accusations soon led to the Thriller singer to deliver a four-minute statement from his Neverland Ranch in Los Olivos, saying, “I am not guilty of these charges, but if I am guilty of anything, it is of giving everything I have to give to help children around the world. It is loving children of all ages and races. It is gaining pure joy from seeing children with their innocent and smiling faces. It is through them enjoying the childhood that I have missed myself.”
Michael added, “If I am guilty of anything, it is that I believe what God said about little children: ‘Let little children come to me, and do not forbid them, for such is the kingdom of heaven.’
The iconic artist has reached a civil settlement out of court with the Chandler family for a reported $25 million.
However, the accusations didn’t stop there. Jason Francia, whose mother worked as a housekeeper for the singer, claimed he was abused by Michael, bringing the total number of alleged victims to five. The other three boys who accused him of abuse were Wade Robson, Gavin Arvizo and Jimmy “James” Safechuck.
Two of the alleged victims, Robson and James, sued Michael’s estate and companies in 2013, but the charges were dismissed several times. Their accusations were featured in the two-part documentary We’re leaving Neverlandbroadcast in 2019.
In 2023, a California appeals court revived both lawsuits and allowed them to file suit against MJJ Productions Inc. and MJJ Ventures Inc.
The sexual abuse claims flared up again after the Cascio siblings sued Michael’s estate and companies in February, alleging years of sexual abuse. The complaint also alleged child trafficking, breach of contract, fraud, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The siblings are seeking financial damages and a ruling to annul an agreement they allege Michael’s employees forced them to sign under false pretenses to silence them about the “years of abuse they endured.”
In response to the filing, Michael’s estate attorney Marty Singer wrote in a statement: “The Cascios are the embodiment of unreliable sources. Their stories have been repeatedly shifted and changed to fit whatever their current agenda is.”
