Siblings Accuse Michael Jackson of Child Sex Trafficking in New Lawsuit
Four siblings who were longtime friends of Michael Jackson have filed a lawsuit alleging the late King of Pop was a serial child predator who groomed and abused them when they were as young as seven years old. The complaint, filed on February 27 and obtained by NBC News, accuses Jackson of using his wealth, fame, and network to prey on the Cascio family.
Details of the Allegations
Edward, Dominic, Marie-Nicole, and Aldo Cascio claim they met Jackson through their father, who worked at a luxury hotel frequented by the singer. According to the lawsuit, Jackson gained the family's trust by offering gifts, affection, and attention before allegedly isolating the children from adults and plying them with drugs and alcohol. The siblings further accuse Jackson of exposing them to pornography and sexually abusing them individually over extended periods in multiple locations worldwide, including during visits to their family home.
The filing states, "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 were as young as seven or eight." The lawsuit seeks monetary compensation and aims to void a 2019 agreement that the siblings claim prevented them from discussing the alleged abuse.
Response from the Jackson Estate
Lawyer Martin Singer, representing the Jackson estate, has dismissed the lawsuit as a "desperate money grab." In a statement, Singer argued that the filing is a transparent tactic to obtain hundreds of millions of dollars from Jackson's estate and associated companies. He noted that the Cascio family previously threatened to make accusations after the release of the documentary Leaving Neverland, which detailed other abuse allegations against Jackson.
Singer revealed that the estate reluctantly paid each sibling $2.8 million over five years to protect Jackson's legacy and future projects. He pointed out that the family had staunchly defended Jackson for over 25 years, including in a 2011 book and a 2010 interview with Oprah Winfrey, where they asserted his innocence. "With the Estate's financial success growing, the Cascios, through two different attorneys, threatened to go public with heinous accusations that completely contradicted their previous statements defending Michael unless his Estate paid staggering sums of money," Singer added.
Historical Context and Legal Background
This lawsuit revisits long-standing controversies surrounding Michael Jackson, who died in 2009 at age 50 from acute propofol intoxication. In 2005, he was found not guilty of all charges related to molesting a 13-year-old cancer survivor at his Neverland Ranch. His personal doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray, was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter for his role in Jackson's death.
The Cascios' allegations add to a complex legacy of accusations and defenses, highlighting ongoing legal and ethical debates about celebrity accountability and victim advocacy in high-profile cases.
