New Allegations of Abuse Surface as Michael Jackson Biopic Premieres
The debut of the highly anticipated and controversial biopic, Michael, coincides with fresh allegations of sexual misconduct against the late Michael Jackson. These allegations, which involve incidents with young boys and a girl, add complexity to the legal controversies surrounding the self-proclaimed “King of Pop.”
In February, a lawsuit filed by the Cascio siblings—now adults—claims that Jackson, described as “constantly under the influence of drugs and frequently intoxicated,” victimized them over an extended period. The lawsuit states that Jackson and his estate manipulated and exploited them.
“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,” alleges the federal court filing. The document describes extensive payoffs that ended in 2025, claiming that Jackson’s abuse occurred in various locations worldwide, including in the plaintiffs’ family home.
The plaintiffs assert that they will not allow the Jackson estate’s attempts to suppress their voices. In a filing dated February 27, they accused the estate of creating “a deceptive and unconscionable document” to silence them, particularly following the release of HBO’s revealing documentary, Leaving Neverland. The plaintiffs stated, “This action aims to hold the Michael Jackson Estate, its affiliates, and those who manage their operations accountable for Jackson’s conduct and their own wrongdoing.”
Representing the Jackson estate, attorney Marty Singer denounced the lawsuit as a “desperate money grab,” highlighting the family’s previous defense of Jackson’s innocence. He criticized the plaintiffs for what he called a “transparent forum-shopping tactic” aimed at extracting hundreds of millions from the estate.
In relation to the Cascio siblings, the estate has negotiated payments of $2.8 million each over five years, while they now demand up to $213 million, according to court documents.
These allegations, reported today by the New York Times, emerge at a critical moment for the film industry. The biopic Michael, produced by Blanca and Graham King and directed by Antoine Fuqua, is expected to achieve substantial box office success this weekend.
On April 17, Singer filed a motion to move the litigation concerning the allegations into arbitration, branding the claims as an extortion scheme. The motion argues that the case does not represent a legitimate pursuit of justice, but rather an attempt to sidestep a binding arbitration agreement negotiated by the plaintiffs.
The motion further emphasizes that the agreement was entered into in January 2020 and required any disputes related to it to be resolved exclusively through arbitration.
A hearing regarding the arbitration motion is scheduled for June 4. Michael Jackson has faced allegations of sexual abuse since 1993, when he was investigated in relation to accusations from then 13-year-old Jordan Chandler. No charges were filed at the time due to the accuser’s refusal to testify, although Jackson settled a civil suit with Chandler for an estimated $23 million to $25 million. In 2005, he was acquitted of all charges related to a separate case involving another minor.
In a separate ongoing dispute, Jackson’s daughter, Paris Jackson, has alleged financial mismanagement against the estate’s executors, John Branca and John McLain. They deny these claims, and both parties are awaiting a ruling from a mediator.
Jaafer Jackson as Michael Jackson in ‘Michael’
Lionsgate/Everett Collection
The ongoing legal disputes also encompass disagreements regarding the management of significant projects, including the just-released biopic Michael, which is on track for an opening of approximately $85 million in the U.S.
