Yesterday we saw a photo of Janet Jackson facing off with her brother Jermaine Jackson amid a shizz storm of controversy swirling around the family. At the heart of the matter is the “missing” matriarch Katherine Jackson (even tho she’s not really missing) and in-fighting over the validity of Michael Jackson‘s will. In the middle of all of this drama are MJ‘s children who have been left unattended by Katherine … to the point where the executors of MJ‘s estate went to court today to seek new guardianship for the children. Surveillance video filmed at the Jackson family home seems to show Janet fighting with Paris, a court has ruled that TJ Jackson (who?) is the new guardian for MJ‘s kids and all of us are just trying to make sense of all of this craziness. Read on and let’s try and sort this mess out.
Security camera video obtained by CNN shows the tension between Jackson family members amid a very public dispute over the whereabouts of Katherine Jackson.
The 82-year-old matriarch of the Jackson music dynasty has not contacted Michael Jackson’s three children since she left the home she shares with them on July 15, although a sheriff’s investigation concluded she is safe in Arizona. Siblings Janet, Jermaine and Randy Jackson attempted to convince Michael Jackson’s two oldest children to leave Katherine Jackson’s home with them Monday, but Paris and Prince resisted, three sources with knowledge of the incident said. The sources asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter. The video shows Janet Jackson apparently trying to take a cell phone away from Paris Jackson at the Calabasas, California, home. She scolded her niece for using her phone to write about family issues on Twitter, according to the three sources. Paris, Michael Jackson’s 14-year-old daughter, posted a Twitter message at about the same time: “gotta love fam.” Prince, 15, is seen walking away from his Uncle Randy into the home’s security office. Paris soon followed. Randy and Janet Jackson appeared to be recording the incident with their cell phones. Sheriff deputies broke up a scuffle minutes later involving Randy and Jermaine Jackson and their cousin Trent Jackson, who works for their mother, according to several people who witnessed it. No one was arrested, although a battery report was taken and an investigation is ongoing, Los Angeles County sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore said. The drama happened as Los Angeles County sheriff’s detectives closed a missing persons case opened for Katherine Jackson, who was found to be with her daughter Rebbie in Arizona.
First off, I cannot take the reporter making comments in this video seriously. Homegirl needs to tone down her ridiculousness, like, seriously. OK … so let’s try and sort this out, it’s starting to make sense. Katherine Jackson, as far as TJ Jackson and Michael Jackson‘s children know, “disappears” on July 15 without a word. They start to get worried and open a missing person investigation with the police. Katherine‘s children, it turns out, sneaked her off to Arizona … for some unknown reason. The Jacksons try to take control of the situation and the children but they won’t be quieted nor do they seem to trust their aunts and uncles, after all, Katherine is still in Arizona away from the kids. At one point, it was reported that Janet called Paris a “spoiled bitch” which, if true, just goes to show how ugly things have gotten between the children and their aunts and uncles. Since Katherine is still away, MJ‘s estate executors go to court to ask that a new temporary guardian be named for MJ‘s kids and TJ Jackson (who works for Katherine in her home here in Calabasas, CA) gets the job:
There’s a reason TJ Jackson had a lawyer prepare legal papers to make him the temporary guardian of Michael Jackson’s kids — he has already partially assumed that role … TMZ broke the story … TJ became alarmed when Katherine Jackson — the current legal guardian — disappeared for more than a week. Jackson sources tell us … TJ — the 34-year-old married son of Tito — has had a strong connection to Paris, Prince and Blanket for years, but was especially comforting after MJ died. One example … at the Michael Jackson tribute show in Wales, Katherine was by herself in a private area, far from the kids. TJ was in full dad mode, helping Blanket tie his shoes, helping Prince tie his tie. He made sure the kids were fed during the concert, which lasted for hours. Paris, Prince and Blanket adore TJ and are behind the temp guardianship move, and that’s something that will weigh heavily with the probate judge. We’re told TJ is in wait mode — to see what happens with Katherine. But the papers are drafted and he’s ready to make his move in court … Judge Mitch Beckloff advised TJ and his lawyer, Charles Shultz, to seek a permanent guardianship, after hearing stories that Katherine may have been held against her will “from third parties.” Translation — Randy, Janet, Jermaine and Rebbie.
Hot. Mess. Honestly, the ridiculous family drama that has always encircled the Jacksons is of little import to me … it’s like background noise to me. That family has always been a mess. Always. What really bothers me is how MJ‘s kids are being lost in the shuffle. Those children have gone from being overprotected by their father to having almost most protection at all. They are now free to do pretty much whatever they want, Tweet whatever they want … without strong parental supervision. Children need structure and amid this chaotic homelife, I’d argue they need extra supervision. It looks now like Michael Jackson was right to overprotect his kids … even from his own family. I’m not sure what is going on with Katherine but if she can’t be home to care for the kids, she needs to just let them be raised by someone else. It sounds like TJ Jackson is the right man for the job but … who knows? I’m certain we’ll hear more about this story as things develop … hopefully, for the kids’ sake, we’ll hear good news soon.
I don’t believe that Katherine is a suitable guardian. Leaving the kids for that long was really wrong, but I also think that signing Paris up for a lead acting role in a film, when she has NO professional acting experience, is setting her up for failure and a lot of ridicule. Michael protected the kids for a reason, and I think he would be horrified that Paris has a twitter account and discusses family info on it. The kids need someone who has their best interest at heart, and Janet seems to be a little bit more on that side because she spoke out against the acting role.
I don’t think the “estate” has the best interests of the kids at heart. They see the kids as golden tickets just as many of the family members do. What kind of legal planner would recommend putting an 80+ year old woman in charge of young kids, with Diana Ross as an alternative???? That makes me seriously question their decision making, not to mention that MJ was surrounded by enablers and leaches in his “team”.
Glad I’m not the only one who thinks Diana Ross is an awful idea. Debbie Rowe as their actual mother of two at least might make more sense. She clearly liked MJ enough to bear his kids, and she has a vested interest (I hope!) in her daughter and son’s well being. Blanket is such a sensitive little kid that having a maternal figure of some kind in his life couldn’t hurt.
LMAO, Trent this reporter is so over-the-top I love it! But yeah, she needs to calm down.
I have never really followed the Jackson Family Drama, but this is getting intense. And sad. And a little bit scary. I’m sure by now they’ve forgotten that they’re in the public eye and all that; they seem really caught up in whatever this is about (yeah, probably money).
Michael Jackson might have been a lot of things but Trent, I agree with you– we can really see now why he was so overprotective. But someone reminded me that overprotected kids can end up wanting to be in the limelight even more. I don’t know if that’s an issue here, but it’s never healthy to exist ONLY in extremes, or to create that kind of environment for children. I really hope TJ can step in and make a difference.
“it’s never healthy to exist ONLY in extremes”
great point!
This mess all comes down to Michael’s money. Obviously, Janet, Jermaine and Randy want their piece of the pie and are willing to go to great lengths to get it. One has to consider that Katherine is quite elderly at this point and may not have mental acuity making her easier to manipulate. I agree with the judge’s decision to tranfer them to a new, younger guardian.
I don’t know if you can say Janet wants a piece of the MJ money. She wrote a lot of her songs, so everytime an 80s or 90s radio station plays her music she gets paid. A person can live comfortably off of writing one hit song for decades, but Janet had many hits. She wrote at least 46 of her songs (lyrics, not music).
Who really knows what is going on, though. You could be right! ;)
i think janet is making appropriate points: please put the cell phone down, stop texting, tweeting and listen to me, please dont air our personal issues, no- you should finish school and try to mature before entering hollywood. also, janet is probably worried about her mom and the stress. apparently katherine is not talking sense. i also understand that paris just wants to be in on the decision making about her and her grandmother. the rest of the jacksons…..yup…all about the money and hiding katherines inability to be the cash cow…i mean guardian. paris, dont push janet away, your dad really loved her and vice versa.
Lori, if Janet was simply concerned that Paris and the boys were growing up too fast or whatnot, why would she join the two broke moochers in trying to get the will overturned (which would open the gates to the rest of the family getting some of the dough) or help get the word to Katherine that her grandchildren are worried about her?
The fact that Janet is apparently siding with Randy and Jermaine speaks volumes for her part in this travesty. If anything Janet would be best served by doing like her older sister LaToya and laying as low as possible for the duration.
Why does this even have to be on CNN? Has the world ran out of “real” news? Did CNN also cover the Robsten “scandal”? ??? WTF indeed. This whole media attention has gone crazy.
Who released this video footage?
This entire thing is sad. I think Janet is really only doing this to keep the family away from her (smaller) money stash. Jermaine and Randy are known to be broke and getting Janet on their side gives them someone with more money and clout to bankroll their scheme.
Is it possible that maybe Janet actually cares about what’s really important here – the kids. I really don’t follow their family drama at all, like Shannon said, but… I mean it’s always possible that Janet isn’t after Michael’s money. I think she’s fairly wealthy herself. Who knows, though, it’s really sad.
so why is janet and her brother recording themselves trying to take away paris’s phone? and where is papa jackson?
@Lori let’s review this then. Janet, Randy and Jermaine were involved in taking their mother to Arizona for some ‘rest’ WITHOUT telling her grandchildren who she is legal guardian to. They are minors. How is that responsible? The grandchildren became afraid when they hadn’t heard from their guardian. Paris knew that other Jackson family members were involved took to twitter. The general consesus is that Randy & Jermaine wanted the estate to pay for their child support which the estate refused to do because that’s not what’s it’s there for to bank roll their financial issues. Michael cut his siblings out of his will and they are not happy about it. Jermaine, Janet and Randy atempted to abduct the children which is why the judge said they can not be removed from CA without a court order. I’m glad that TJ got temporary guardianship but it needs to become permanent. They were able to take Katherine away once she is elderly and should she become ill you can bet your bottom dollar that they would do it again. Especially since once she dies ALL of the money from the estate goes into trust for the kids and they won’t be able to get their greedy hands on it. For those who say Janet made her own money yes she did but we are talking about a $500 million estate here. People have turned crazy over less.
@Trent
You are right Michael Jackson did have a reason to over protect them but lets keep it real here. It’s not the public or the paparazzi they need protection from right now.It’s from members of their own family. They are 15 year old kids and younger who are unsupervised and taking to twitter because members of their family thought that in order to get their hands on more money it would be a good idea to cohere their mother to go to Arizona, drug her and get her to agree to fighting the estate. Ugly, disgusting mess.