Michael Jackson’s estate has launched legal action against a former associate of the late King of Pop, who allegedly threatened to bring forward new claims of inappropriate behavior.
Around 2019, the man and four others informed the estate that they were considering going public with allegations that Michael Jackson had acted inappropriately towards them during their childhood.
In 2020, the estate quietly reached an undisclosed settlement of nearly $20 million. Under the terms, the man and the other accusers agreed to defend Jackson’s reputation instead of pursuing their claims.
Now, the estate claims the man fabricated his earlier allegations and is attempting to extort an additional $213 million from the estate, according to an arbitration filing. The estate has also reported the situation to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles.
The estate is requesting that an arbitrator award damages, enforce the 2020 settlement, and issue an injunction to prevent the man from disclosing information he had agreed to keep confidential. Due to legal constraints, the man’s identity cannot be disclosed.
The accusations from the five individuals—none of whom appeared in the Leaving Neverland documentary—surfaced shortly after. The estate asserts that the man had previously denied Jackson engaged in any inappropriate conduct. The decision to settle was described by the estate as a “business decision.” The settlement, finalized in January 2020, involved the purchase of the accusers’ life rights and consulting agreements, with each of the five set to receive $3.3 million over six years.
Since then, it’s claimed, each accuser has received $2.8 million. However, in January, before the final $500,000 installment was due, the man informed the estate that he no longer intended to honor the agreement and demanded $213 million in additional payments. His legal team allegedly warned that without a “substantive response” to their demand, they would be forced to “expand the circle of knowledge” by sharing the information.
After years of maintaining a low profile, the estate is now adopting a more aggressive stance in defense of Jackson’s legacy.
“We survived Leaving Neverland, but I’m not sure we could have with those additional allegations,” said John Branca, co-executor of Jackson’s estate. He added that his legal team warned, “You have no choice. If these people come forward and make these allegations, Michael’s legacy is over, and so is the business.”
The estate’s mutual nondisclosure agreement with the associates was vital in keeping the matter private and allowing the estate to move forward with projects that that would ensure that future generations could share in Michael’s musical and creative legacy and that could prove lucrative for Michael’s three children, the King of Pop’s heirs. “We and they signed this nondisclosure agreement, and the nondisclosure said you can’t even tell people there’s an agreement,” Branca explained. “It was awkward because we were making a movie with Antoine Fuqua and Graham King. And we couldn’t tell anybody about it, including the filmmakers.”
ranca commented, “The associate’s lawyer even said to us, if you don’t meet our demands, we’re going to have to share these allegations with a wider group of people. It was a shakedown. Enough is enough.”
The estate has reported the extortion attempt to authorities and is filing an arbitration proceeding against the associates for civil extortion. Branca noted the challenge of protecting Jackson’s legacy after his death, as libel laws that protect the living do not extend to those who have passed away.
“We will continue to manage the estate with the integrity and dedication that Michael deserved,” Branca affirmed. “Attempts like this to tarnish his memory for financial gain will not succeed.”
Were the Estate right to settle at the time? Who are those 5 cowards? Will this damage Michael? Time will tell.
