On the day that the heavily promoted and controversial Michael biopic debuts, more accusations of sexual misconduct and inappropriate encounters with young boys and a young girl have emerged against the deceased self-declared King of Pop.
Claiming that Michael Jackson was “constantly under the influence of drugs and frequently intoxicated,” a February lawsuit from the Cascio siblings, a trio of now adult brothers and their sister, says the Thriller singer and his estate victimized them and played them for fools.
“Michael Jackson was 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,” the filing in federal court alleges, revealing years of multi-million dollar payoffs that dried up in 2025. “Jackson’s attacks on these siblings went on for extended periods, including in locations around the world and when Jackson and his children were guests in Plaintiffs’ family home.”
Representing the Jackson estate and its trustees John Branca and John McLain, attorney Marty Singer decries the suit and the claims as a “desperate money grab.” Citing hypocrisy, Singer adds: “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.”
These latest allegations against Jackson, who died in 2009 on the eve of a comeback tour, first appeared in the New York Times today.
Jackson had faced sexual abuse allegations dating back to 1993 when he was investigated following accusations by then 13-year-old Jordan Chandler. No criminal charges were filed because the main accuser refused to testify in criminal court. Consistently proclaiming his innocence, Jackson settled a civil suit with Chandler the following year for an estimated $23M to $25M. In 2005, Jackson was charged with 10 counts, including child molestation, intoxicating a minor with alcohol, and conspiracy, involving13-year-old Gavin Arvizo. Following a high-profile 14-week trial, Jackson was found not guilty on all counts.
Meanwhile, Jackson’s daughter, Paris Jackson, has been involved in an ongoing legal battle with the executors of the Michael Jackson estate, John Branca and John McClain, alleging financial mismanagement, excessive fees and self-serving bonus payments, claims which Branca and McClain deny. The legal clash also involves disagreements over the management of high-profile projects, including the just-released biopic Michael, which is currently heading toward an $85M U.S. opening.
