Daily Record

SALE OF BACK CATALOGUE SPARKS LATEST RIFT THE BATTLE FOR JACKO’S £1.6BN ESTATE

Singer’s son Bigi takes legal action against own gran, 93

- BY CHRISTOPHE­R BUCKTIN

Michael Jackson was no stranger to controvers­y in his life, and 15 years after his death the legacy he left behind is tearing the musical dynasty apart once again.

The King of Pop’s £1.6billion estate and Neverland ranch is at the centre of a bitter battle. At its heart is cash.

On one side is the late singer’s third child Bigi, 22, formerly known as Blanket, the youngest sibling of Prince, 27, and Paris, 25.

On the other is Jacko’s mother, matriarch Katherine, 93, the widow of Joe, the tyrannical mastermind of the Jackson 5.

Yesterday it was revealed Bigi has begun legal action against his grandmothe­r.

He wants to prevent her from accessing his father’s estate funds to pay for £441,000 in legal bills.

The developmen­t is the latest in a string of feuds that have afflicted the clan since the star’s druginduce­d death aged 50 on June 25, 2009.

The ugly row began when both Bigi and Katherine argued against efforts by the estate’s executors to sell off a portion of the singer’s back catalogue to help raise funds for what is effectivel­y now a business.

But while Bigi and his grandmothe­r initially agreed to resist the potential sale, Blanket apparently did a U-turn.

He chose not to partake in Katherine’s subsequent appeal of a court ruling permitting the executors to explore further sale options.

According to reports, Bigi’s legal team were concerned over the potential financial strain such court action will cost, ultimately eating into the siblings’ inheritanc­es.

His lawyers said Bigi “is a very private person and may have said nothing if he knew his words or positions could become public... That, in turn, would have denied the trial court of the ability to hear and consider all aspects of the proposed action”.

A family friend, who knows Katherine and the children, spoke of their alleged different attitudes towards the estate, which provides them all with a substantia­l monthly allowance.

“The kids have felt stability, happiness and joy at the way they have been treated by the estate,” the friend said.

“They had a nomadic lifestyle with Michael in their early years as they moved from city to city, trying to find somewhere to settle.

“Once the estate took over they went to school normally, they had the mansion in LA’s Calabasas, anything they have asked for they have gotten – like Prince going to film school, Bigi’s podcast. The estate pays for their homes and all their bills.

“The kids think they have a great life and great relationsh­ip with the estate.”

But the friend added: “On the other hand is Katherine. She is old school – she thinks the kids should be mega wealthy and have access to all the

money to do what they want. She’s a different generation. She only leaves her home nowadays for appointmen­ts and misses Joe so much.

“She’s taken action against the estate many times, but the kids feel the estate has been very fair to her, covering her medical bills. Their view is, ‘We haven’t got it that bad’, they have a lovely life.”

Jackson’s final will before his death cut many of his relatives out of his money and control of his legacy.

Michael’s brothers and sisters were shocked when the regular handouts they had been receiving stopped after his death.

Instead, 40 per cent of the net income goes to Katherine. Prince, Paris, and Bigi share a further 40 per cent. The remaining 20 per cent goes to charities.

But the whole estate is overseen by executors John Branca and John McClain. And they have pointed to the estate having once been drowning in debts exceeding £314million.

Branca and McClain argued offloading Jacko’s catalogue was necessary to address the financial instabilit­y. Last month, a portion of the catalogue was sold to Sony for £472m, intensifyi­ng the conflict with the regard to the rest.

Prince and Paris have chosen to keep their positions private.

It is not the first time a row over the estate has blown up. In 2012, Jacko’s siblings expressed concern about how it was being run.

“I think you have a bunch of people who have a lot of different ideas about what should happen with their mother in this situation. It’s a complex family dynamic,” Katherine’s attorney said at the time. A letter signed by five of Jackson’s siblings – Jermaine, Janet, Tito, Rebbie and Randy – accused executors of conspiring in their brother’s death, pressuring their mother, and faking the will. Jermaine later removed his name. An estate spokesman said: “We are saddened false and defamatory accusation­s grounded in stale internet conspiracy theories are being made by certain members of Michael’s family whom he chose to leave out of his will.

“We are especially dishearten­ed they come at a time when remarkable progress has been made to secure the financial future of his children by turning around the estate’s finances.”

In the wake of Jackson’s death, a flood of legal claims came against his estate, some ridiculous, others serious. Sadly the clan know only too well court arenas not just pop ones.

 ?? ?? PARIS, 25 No public stance on sale
PARIS, 25 No public stance on sale
 ?? ??
 ?? ?? RANCH Neverland home in california
RANCH Neverland home in california
 ?? ?? PRINCE, 27 He is keeping his position private
PRINCE, 27 He is keeping his position private
 ?? ?? MICHAEL Star with his mother in 2005
MICHAEL Star with his mother in 2005
 ?? ?? BIGI, 22 Lawyers describe him as private
BIGI, 22 Lawyers describe him as private
 ?? ?? TOGETHER Gran and Bigi in 2011, two years after his dad died
TOGETHER Gran and Bigi in 2011, two years after his dad died

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