Jackson matriarch Katherine granted a bizarre interview to a British tabloid in which she revealed personal information about her grandchildren and seemed to portray Michael’s three children as sad little waifs pining for their departed dad. Some outlets are reporting this as her first interview since Michael’s death last year, but it’s technically not. She was on the Geraldo Rivera show last August, and expressed her gratitude in October for a So You Think You Can Dance tribute show for Michael. Still, Katherine has said very little about her son up until now and it’s disappointing to hear her sounding like her evil husband, Joe. She’s shilling a new coffee table book that retails for $59.95 called Never Can Say Good Bye: The Katherine Jackson Story. Here’s what she said.

On how Michael’s children are coping
His daughter Paris, 12, has turned her bedroom into a shrine to her “Daddy”, where she is surrounded by his photographs.

And his boys Prince, 13, and eightyear-old Blanket bravely talk about wanting to make him proud – and then lapse into silent moments, when they are missing him. All three spend hours listening to their father’s hits.

Katherine says: “They don’t have any friends. They don’t go to school, they have private lessons at home – but that will change in September, when they are due to enrol at private college. But they have their cousins and aunts and uncles around them constantly, and that’s helped them immensely.

“To them, it’s normal, it’s the life they have known. They have a certain time to go to bed, then they get up and get dressed for lessons. They practise karate and swim, which they love.

On Paris’ love for her dad
“I wanted to hang pictures of flowers or ballerinas in Paris’s room, the sort of things I expected a girl would like,” Katherine says.

“But she went into a closet and she brought out seven or eight pictures of Michael, and she told me, ‘No, I want daddy hanging in my room’. So she goes to bed looking at him and wakes up looking at him. She said, ‘I always want to be able to see him’.

“Paris has that lovely way, just like him, and I see his talent in her. Whatever she does, she is very good at it. She’s a good artist, she plays the piano and she wants to be an actress.

On the molestation charges against Michael
“Many doubt that [Michael was a loving person], because of the child molestation accusation falsely laid on him, but in truth it was just greedy people after money. The first child, Jordan Chandler, whose father accused Michael, ended up saying he regretted not getting a chance to say sorry to Michael. Then the father committed suicide – I think his conscience was bothering him.”

Questions Michael’s death
“He was too young [to have died of natural causes]. I heard from people that he was taking prescription drugs but I never saw my son in any way drugged… he was always himself. If I could see him again, I would want to know one thing, ‘Who did this to you?’”

[From The Mirror, subheaders added]

What’s going on with Katherine and why is she suddenly selling a book and selling out her grandkids? TMZ reports that Joe, who recently blamed Katherine for Michael’s death and then tried to backtrack, is still manipulating her. They quote a source who says she put out this book to make money for her husband and that “Joe has always controlled her and always will.” That’s a shame because I thought that Joe had essentially screwed himself out of access to Michael’s estate, which Katherine controls, by calling her responsible for Michael’s death. If Joe is able to get Katherine to do his bidding, how long will it be before Michael’s kids are performing at Joe’s insistence? They’ll try to make it sound like it’s all the kids’ idea while Joe is cackling and collecting all the money.

Here are MJ’s kids Paris, Blanket, and Prince Michael I out after karate. They are shown with their cousins Jermajesty and Jaffar. They may not have “friends,” but they live with their cousins and seem to have enough other children around. They may not be the best influence, though, judging by the stun gun incident. Credit: Fame Pictures

TMZ has the breakdown of the expenses for both Katherine Jackson and Michael Jackson’s children, as detailed in recent estate documents. Katherine’s expenses amount to a whopping $26,804 per month, and the children’s expenses are $60,000 a month. A lot of that amount goes into salaries for people like personal assistants, nannies, and housekeepers. It’s still a hell of a lot of money. The Jackson estate is said to be worth $500 million and counting.

Up to now we didn’t know how much Katherine Jackson was getting by way of allowance while Michael Jackson’s estate gets probated. In legal docs just unveiled today, we now know the special administrators asked to pay her $26,804 per month.

As for the kids, the family allowance for them is $60,000 per month.

The docs also say “…the Estate assets consist of real and personal property exceeding $500 million and that the Estate is solvent.”

Katherine and Michael’s 3 kids will continue to get an allowance — which is subject to change — until the estate is probated. That could take between 1 and 2 years from now.

UPDATE: The docs also list Katherine and the kids’ expenses separately.

Now, the kids’ specific expenses are redacted — but it doesn’t matter, because the totals are still listed … and they’re HUGE:

– Salaries and payroll benefits: $315,580 per year
– Basic needs: $141,300 per year
– Entertainment and other: $159,120 per year
TOTAL: $720,000 per year

Katherine’s expenses per month:

– Assistant: $4,722
– Insurance for Asst: $475
– Housekeeper: $2,080
– Driver: $2,000
– Payroll and Taxes on gross salaries: $1,760
– Utilities: $3,260
– Clothing: $3,500
– Personal grooming: $1,000
– Entertainment: $1,500
– Car Expenses: $1,750
TOTAL (plus a few expenses we didn’t list): $26,804 per month

[From TMZ]

After reading how much it costs to care for the children every month I thought, “they could pretty much live at Disneyland and eat every meal there for that amount.” I forgot that I had just read that they were there, and that Disneyland staff set up a special private viewing for them of the 3D short with their dad, “Captain EO,” that stopped playing at Disneyland in 1998. The props were even set up from the original show. Jackson’s children, Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and Prince Michael III (Blanket), 7, had never seen the movie before and it must have been a real treat for them. $60,000 a month is a ton of money but I bet those poor kids would give anything just to have their dad back. Michael’s mom Katherine also seems genuinely distraught over her son’s death. Her husband, on the other hand, is another story.

Photos are from Jackson’s two funerals, on 9/3/09 and 7/7/09. Credit: WENN.com

I can’t decide how I feel about the Jackson family right now. No matter their past or their issues, they’ve lost a close family member and I feel they’re due some empathy and respect like anyone would be. On the other hand, it’s hard not to feel like in an attempt to be kind we’re often willfully turning a blind eye to all the ways they’re still trying to make money off of Michael’s memory. His funeral is a great example of this push and pull. The family made such a big deal about how they had to have nothing but absolute privacy. They managed to even get the airspace blocked off. Yet people ignored it, and now they’re beyond livid. However it turns out the Jacksons filmed the funeral themselves for a DVD they’re releasing. So is their real motivation privacy or money?

Randy Jackson is furious footage of Michael’s funeral at Forest Lawn is being broadcast all over the world, saying it was a private event and not meant for the public to see. Jackson just released a scathing statement condemning those who violated the no-fly zone over Forest Lawn last night — asking all media organizations to refrain from airing any more footage of the event.

Here’s Randy’s full statement:

“As a family, we are all aware of how Michael’s life, and his death, touched so many around the world. It is why we held a public memorial in my brother’s honor. And it is the reason we chose to release a small amount of footage leading up to yesterday’s ceremony at Forest Lawn. I was dismayed last night and again today at the coverage I saw on television of our ceremony for Michael. We had asked the media to respect the privacy and the sanctity of this event; to give us one moment of privacy to mourn as a family out of the public spotlight.

Unfortunately, despite a no-fly zone around Forest Lawn, many media organizations decided to ignore our wishes. They employed helicopters that not only surreptitiously recorded our private family ceremony, but also severely disrupted it. I therefore ask today that media organizations airing helicopter footage of the ceremony we held for my brother immediately pull that footage from their air and refrain from airing it in the future.”

[From TMZ]

But here’s that little tidbit about how the Jackson family is actually just trying to make money off his funeral themselves. They even filmed the “after party” (poor word to describe it, but that’s what they called it) held at a restaurant after Michael’s funeral.

There were were cameras shooting everything at the after-party for Michael Jackson’s burial — and we’re told the whole thing could end up on A&E.

Sources tell TMZ footage from inside the party — as well as the funeral itself — will be used for an A&E special, plus a DVD at a later date.

Don’t expect to see Joe or Katherine Jackson, Michael’s three children or Elizabeth Taylor in the footage though — we’re told none of them went to the restaurant after the burial.

A few other random tidbits about the affair: Rat Pack music played all night, “Casablanca” was projected onto the walls, the brothers talked about a reunion tour — and Janet seemed the most grief stricken of the group.

[From TMZ]

And as an aside, Rev. Al Sharpton Tweeted his way through Jackson’s funeral service. In case there wasn’t enough tacky behavior going on.

According to MSNBC, the reason Katherine Jackson almost didn’t go to the funeral was because she was so distraught over how public it had become. I find that confusing. They couldn’t expect complete and total privacy – they chose to hold the service outdoors. And Michael was interred – they certainly could have done it indoors if absolute privacy was necessary. And nothing about Michael’s life was really private. I understand why she would have wanted it to be totally private, but I’m confused about why she thought that would actually happen. Again, especially with the family filming things for their DVD.

Katherine Jackson apparently was the source of the delay of the start of Michael Jackson’s burial service on Thursday night. A source in direct contact with the family said Katherine didn’t begin getting ready at her Encino home until 6:45 p.m., just 15 minutes before the scheduled start.

“She actually had to be coerced into going in the end,” said the source. “It was like the reality of what this had turned into — an event and not anything remotely private — hit her all at once.”

Katherine and the rest of the Jacksons ultimately made it to the Glendale Forest Lawn cemetery, where guests such as Elizabeth Taylor had been waiting for nearly two hours in some cases.

Taylor’s appearance was a surprise to many — though she was one of Jackson’s closest confidantes, she was not at the public memorial in July. The source says Taylor was actually not invited to the July 7 private ceremony that took place just before the public event at the Staples Center, and this invite was extended at the last minute.

“She didn’t go to Staples because she didn’t want to be part of the spotlight. When she accepted a rather last minute invite to this memorial, she thought it was really going to be private. She had no idea that she’d be on camera so much. She definitely didn’t expect to wait outside for hours,” said the source.

[From MSNBC]

I never expected to be impressed with the Jackson family through this, and I’ve gone back and forth. True, they could certainly have been much tackier than they were. So I guess they’ve dialed down some of the drama. But filming Michael’s funeral, and then releasing a terse statement about how upset you are that other people did the same? You’re filming it to make money. Whatever reason other people are filming it, it can’t be more crass than that. I want to give them some leeway because of what they’re going through, but it seems like this was always and will always be about the almighty dollar.

Here’s Katherine and Joe Jackson at the funeral. We’re only using these photos because they were released by the family. Images thanks to WENN.com .

Yesterday we told you that Katherine Jackson, Michael’s 79-year-old mom, has gotten custody of his three children: Prince Michael, 12, Paris Michael, 11, and Blanket, 7. Though Blanket’s custody has never been a huge issue (he was born to a surrogate), it’s been up-in-the-air regarding whether or not Katherine would raise the eldest two, or if they’d go with their mother, Debbie Rowe. The Jacksons must have been truly desperate to get Paris and Prince. Joe Jackson had to agree – in writing – that he would not be raising the kids and will only visit Katherine’s home from time to time.

Joe Jackson doesn’t plan to help raise Michael Jackson’s three children.

The Jackson family patriarch lives in Las Vegas and wrote in a statement filed in a Los Angeles court on Monday that he only occasionally visits the family home in the San Fernando Valley, north of downtown Los Angeles.

“I have had a close family relationship with these grandchildren since their birth,” Jackson wrote in the declaration dated July 13. “I do visit the family residence from time to time and will continue to do so, however I will not be involved in raising the children.”

His two-page declaration expresses support for his wife, Katherine, who on Monday was granted permanent custody of Michael Jackson’s three children.

Joe Jackson wrote that his wife is “a wonderful caretaker and guardian.”

A judge on Monday awarded Katherine Jackson a monthly stipend to help upkeep the family’s home, where her three grandchildren are staying.

Court records released on Tuesday include forms signed by Jackson’s two oldest children, Prince Michael, 12, and Paris-Michael, 11, consenting to their grandmother serving as their guardian. The documents do not include any statements by the children.

[From the Huffington Post]

The Huffington Post goes on to say that Debbie Rowe will be introduced back into the kids’ lives slowly with the help of a child psychologist. According to her lawyer no money was involved in the agreement between Rowe and Katherine Jackson. Rowe’s one big stipulation was that Joe stay the hell away.

Debbie Rowe received no money for giving up custody of Michael Jackson’s children to his mother, her lawyer tells RadarOnline.com exclusively. “No money was exchanged, discussed, or changed hands regarding the custody settlement that was reached by my client, Debbie Rowe and Katherine Jackson,” legal eagle Eric George told RadarOnline.com exclusively.

Debbie will be working out a visitation schedule to see her children, we’ve learned. But RadarOnline.com’s investigation also uncovered that Debbie went hard-line on Joe Jackson’s involvement with the kids… “Debbie wouldn’t sign off on the custody agreement unless Joe Jackson submitted in writing that he would have nothing to do with raising the children,” another source close to the situation told RadarOnline.com. “Debbie stood her ground and demanded it be done. She wants Joe held accountable.”

Debbie’s insistence paid off. Joe Jackson submitted a declaration to the Court stating, in part, “I do visit the family residence from time to time, and will continue to do so however I will not be involved in raising the children.”… “Debbie’s concerns were never about money but the security of the children’s future, a future that she will be playing a role in,” the source added. “Debbie has tremendous faith in Katherine, and the utmost respect for her.”

[From Radar]

While it sounds like Joe will obviously be somewhat removed from the children, he’s still going to be in their lives. And Katherine has denied that Joe ever hurt her children or is anything other than a great, loving man. That makes me worry since she obviously doesn’t see how dangerous and controlling he is.

I don’t want to assume she has bad intentions but it’s very hard not to worry that Katherine’s being manipulated by Joe, who’ll say whatever he needs to in order to get those kids. I seriously can’t imagine him backing off and chilling in Vegas when there are little people whose lives can be messed with. That’s like Batman ignoring the Bat-signal. It’s a good thing a child psychologist will be involved. True, it’s more for Debbie, but if the kids have someone outside the family with whom they can build a relationship and trust, hopefully that person will look out for their greater good.

An agreement has been formally reached in the custody of Michael Jackson’s three children. All of them will stay with his mother Katherine, with whom they’ve been living since he passed away five weeks ago. Debbie Rowe, the mother of Michael’s oldest children Prince Michael and Paris, will get to see them on a scheduled visitation system.

A Los Angeles judge signed off Monday on a deal granting Jackson family matriarch Katherine Jackson custody of her son Michael’s three children, with a family allowance paid out of the entertainer’s estate. “It’s not my intention to deprive the children of anything,” said Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff at a hearing.

Katherine, 79, reached a custody agreement last week with Deborah Rowe, Michael’s ex-wife and the biological mother of his two oldest children – Prince Michael I, 12, and Paris, 11 – with visitation rights for Rowe based on a schedule worked out with a child psychologist and continued spousal support.

Prince Michael II (a.k.a. “Blanket”), 7, Michael Jackson’s youngest child whose surrogate mother has never been identified, will also stay with Katherine, the judge said, finding there was “no legal mother” of Blanket.

“Today the parties and the California court brought about a result that is selfless and wise through a process that was collaborative and fair,” Rowe’s attorney, Eric George, said outside of court. “Everyone sought the same objective: Doing what is best for the children of Debbie Rowe and Michael Jackson. Today’s result – five-and-a-weeks after the tragic death of Michael Jackson, eliminates uncertainty and offers stability to the lives of these children.”

Katherine attended the hearing with son Randy and daughter LaToya. In addition to the custody hearing, the judge is expected to decide who will be permanent executors of the singer’s estate. Last month, attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain were made temporary executors.

According to published reports, Michael supported his mother financially up until his death on June 25. The judge said the family allowance will continue through the end of the year. Lawyers will return to court Jan. 11, 2010, for a status hearing.

[From People]

The biggest advantage here is that the three kids get to stay together. A lot of people thought Debbie should fight for custody because she’d presumably be a better parent than would Katherine Jackson – because Katherine is married to legendary bad dad Joe Jackson. And she’s also 79 years old, which is a tough age to raise young children. Certainly other grandmothers have done it, and God bless them. But it’ll be a challenge.

Obviously money plays into this a great deal, and anyone going after custody becomes the object of suspicion. Actually the reverse is true as well – when it was first reported that Debbie Rowe agrees to let the Jacksons raise Prince and Paris, it was also said she essentially sold the kids to the family. There’s no way to talk about Michael Jackson and not talk about money. It does seem like they came to an agreement relatively quickly – not lightening fast, but it wasn’t an epic feud either. That’s something. Hopefully the kids will have some kind of relationship with their mother, and it’s wonderful they’re not getting split up.

Here’s Katherine Jackson in May, 2008. Images thanks to Fame Pictures .

Katherine Jackson’s lawyer went on the CBS Early Show this morning to announce that a custody deal has been worked out. Katherine will receive full custody of all three of Michael’s kids. The lawyer also noted that Michael’s estate is in much better shape than previously reported. As far as I can tell, the only thing that’s been worked out is the kids’ custody, but the financials are still be hashed out. Katherine wants guardianship over Michael’s estate, as well as the kids, but I doubt that will happen:

The 79-year-old mother of Michael Jackson will receive full custody of the pop singer’s three children under the terms of a deal that has just been reached, her lawyer told The Early Show Thursday morning.

“There is no situation better for these children than for them to be raised and reared in the loving care of Mrs. Katherine Jackson,” L. Londell McMillan said.

He added that the issue of Debbie Rowe, who is the mother of two of the children – Prince Michael I, 12, and Paris, 11 – will be detailed in an announcement to come shortly.

As for speculation that the King of Pop left his family with more debt than money, McMillan said there’s no reason for the children or his mother to worry about going broke.

“That estate is worth, in my estimation, a couple of billion dollars,” he said. “You hear $500 million. Don’t buy it.”

[From People]

The two names constantly mentioned for the kids’ custody was Debbie Rowe, biological mother of Paris and Prince Michael, and Janet Jackson, Michael’s little sister. Janet is said to be extremely close to the kids, and might be looking to take an active interest in either helping her mother raise the kids, or taking over guardianship at some point.

According to TMZ, Debbie Rowe isn’t getting much of anything. She will get visitation rights, probably as some kind of limited access to her children, nor will she get any kind of financial settlement. But Debbie was granted one important detail – a psychologist will be visiting and monitoring the kids’ mental health and well-being:

TMZ has learned Debbie Rowe has settled her custody issues over Michael Jackson’s children and it doesn’t involve a single penny … but it does involve a shrink.

Sources tell us, Rowe has agreed that Katherine Jackson will be the guardian of Michael’s children, subject to the judge’s approval.

Rowe will get visitation of the two children she had with Michael.

But here’s what’s interesting — Rowe wants and will get a psychologist who will visit the children and help them adjust to her being in their lives on a meaningful basis.

Rowe will maintain her parental rights. We’re told the agreement does not specify the amount of visitation.

The agreement says Rowe has no parental rights to Blanket, Jackson’s youngest child.

[From TMZ]

I suppose this is one of the better solutions. I’ve heard over and over again that Michael’s wishes for his kids’ custody really would have been his mother first, and Janet second. It bothers me that Katherine seems too interested in getting control of the money as well, but it seems like the estate’s guardians are going to put up a fight on that one. Most likely, it will take years to figure the financials.

Katherine Jackson is shown out with Jermaine on 5/22/09. Credit: BARM/Fame Pictures

Yesterday we reported on two stories related to the custody of Michael Jackson’s children. British paper The Mirror claimed that Debbie Rowe, the biological mother of Jackson’s two older children, had reached some kind of secret custody agreement with grandmother Katherine Jackson. Supposedly Debbie and Katherine worked out a deal where the kids could stay with Katherine as long as grandfather Joe Jackson had no access to Michael’s children. This seemed plausible, especially since Debbie told a radio station that she was going to seek a restraining order against Joe to keep him away from the children.

The other story, originating in the NY Post, had Debbie receiving a behind-the-scenes payoff for not challenging custody. She supposedly received a “final payoff” of $4 million in exchange for letting Paris and Prince Michael stay with their grandmother.

According to Debbie’s lawyer, neither story is true and she just wants to continue whatever spousal support she had worked out with Michael before his death. I wonder how much money they’re talking about monthly:

“Bombshell emails” from Michael Jackson’s ex-wife Debbie Rowe reveal that she doesn’t want custody of her two kids but was concerned about her public perception as “a woman who gave away her kids and just forgot about them,” according to the New York Post. In a July 5 email to her friend Rebecca White, Rowe wrote, “Do I want the kids? Hell no. Does it look good for me to ask for them? Absolutely.” White told the New York Post, “There’s definitely going to be a settlement that’s going to come out of this.” But her attorney says reports that Rowe gave up her parental rights in exchange for a $4 million payoff are incorrect. “There has been no agreement reached between Ms. Rowe and the Jacksons,” lawyer Eric George said. “Ms. Rowe has not and will not give up her parental rights. … And Ms. Rowe has not accepted and will not accept any additional financial consideration beyond the spousal support she and Michael personally agreed to several years ago.”

[From The Buffalo News]

I don’t really trust the NY Post and let’s assume we don’t have enough evidence that these supposed e-mails from Rowe exist to prove there was a payoff. (Rowe’s lawyer also said that story was completely fabricated.) In the only interview I’ve ever seen with Rowe, a 2003 rebuttal to the Martin Bashir series called “Living with Michael Jackson, Take Two” (link leads to video) she spoke of her children as a gift she gave to Michael and seemed like she never intended to take a role as their mother. Rowe said “I did not leave my children. My children are with their father, where they’re supposed to be,” and that “”It’s not that they’re not my children, but I had them because I wanted him to be a father.”

The next custody hearing is on July 20, next Monday, and according to her lawyer Rowe will be there. Is it true that she’s not out for money at all, or is she using those kids as pawns to try and squeeze money out of the estate? I do believe that she cares about their well being, but it’s doubtful that she wants to take responsibility for two children she hasn’t seen in over ten years. Sadly, I’m kind of on Kaiser’s side that money is a motivation for Rowe, but I’ll still give her the benefit of the doubt that it does matter to her what happens to those kids.

Rowe is shown on her ranch in Palmdale, CA on 7/3/09. Credit: Mike/Fame Pictures

CB already covered one theory behind the on-going custody battle for Michael Jackson’s children. Many of the tabloids and news sources are reporting that Debbie Rowe and Katherine Jackson have either reached an agreeement, or are working on an agreement to limit or ban Joe Jackson’s involvement with the children. Radar has Debbie and Katherine negotiating an “out of court settlement” with some kind of codicil that Joe won’t be allowed near the kids. A source tells Radar: “Debbie is absolutely steadfast that Joe Jackson not be involved whatsoever in the children’s lives. Michael regaled Debbie with what a horrible father Joe was, and Debbie doesn’t want the children exposed to that. Debbie is navigating a minefield right now of emotions, but she will make sure that Joe Jackson isn’t involved in their daily lives. [Debbie] became so upset that she was reduced to tears.”

Except the New York Post has a somewhat different version of the custodial issues. This could be total crap, but you never know. They have Rowe simply wanting more money in exchange for not fighting for custody. According to the Post’s sources, Debbie Rowe got her “final payday” – $4 million:

Michael Jackson’s baby mama Debbie Rowe has sold her kids again — this time squeezing about $4 million from her former mother-in-law in exchange for giving up her parental rights, a family source told The Post yesterday.

“It’s one final payday,” the disgusted Jackson confidant said.

The family isn’t happy about the mega-payout — which was set to be sealed in Los Angeles yesterday afternoon — but they consider it a necessary evil, the source said.

“They felt it was like a ransom-type thing. [Rowe] jumped back into the picture because she wanted money,” the friend said.

[From Page Six]

CB wants to think the best of Rowe, and I’d like to as well, but Rowe doesn’t always give us a lot to work with. I do think Rowe is capable of simply auctioning off those kids for a cash settlement – if the stories are correct, that’s pretty much what happened when she gave Michael custody. It’s my hope that Rowe really is fighting to keep Joe Jackson away from the children, and that Rowe herself doesn’t drag the whole thing out in the courts. We’ll see.

Debbie Rowe is shown yelling at photographers not to touch her on 7/5/09. Credit: Mike/Fame Pictures

It’s hard to tell if this story is true or not, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it is. The Sunday Mirror, which probably has no access to insider information in the Jackson case unless their private investigator is wiretapping some phones, claims that grandmother Katherine Jackson and supposed biological mother Debbie Rowe have worked out a behind-the-scenes custody agreement for Jackson’s two older children that ensures that Katherine retains custody – as long as evil grandfather Joe is completely out of the picture. Rowe has expressed ambivalence about her role as mother, and seems unsure about whether she wants responsibility for her children after they lived with their father for years. According to this report, Rowe will get monthly visits with them as per this new arrangement with Katherine.

Jacko dada Joe won’t be getting his hands on King of Pop’s tots according to secret custody deal that Michael Jackson’s mom Katherine and baby maker ex-wife Debbie Rowe have cut.

According to UK tab Sunday Mirror Rowe agreed to drop her custody claim on Jackson’s children’s – two of which are hers via artificial insemination as long as creepy dad Joe, who announced last week, he’d like to help Prince Michael I, Paris and Blanket pursue a show biz career now that their faces are world-famous.

“The last thing she wanted was for those kids to be looked after by Joe and go through what Michael went through,” a source told the tab.

“Michael (had) poured out his heart about how much he loathed Joe for what he had done.”

In a blockbuster MJ 2003 documentary, Jacko revealed that during his tumultuous childhood his abusive father would lash out with anything he could get his hands on: “Ironing cords, whatever’s around . . . throw you up against the wall, hard as he could.”

Under the tentative deal struck by Katherine and “Miss Debbie” -as she’s known to the kids not Mom – Rowe promised not to pursue a custody battle in exchange for monthly supervised visits, a source told the NY Post.

Although still married, Jacko’s parents, Katherine and Joe, have lived apart for years.

[From The National Enquirer]

Again, fingers crossed that this is the case and that Katherine and Debbie are talking and working together. Their primary concern seems to be the well being of all three children, who seem comfortable and happy with the grandmother they’ve known all their lives. It would be jarring for Paris and Prince Michael to have to live with the mother they’ve never known and be split up from their younger brother, Blanket. If this agreement really happened, they’ll get to live with their grandmother without the threat of their grandfather Joe stepping in to exploit them for cash and worse. You only hope that if something happens to Katherine that Michael’s siblings will step in and ensure that Joe has no role in the children’s lives.

We’ll know soon enough if this story is based in reality. The next custody hearing is scheduled for next Monday, July 20, and Rowe is slated to be there.

Katherine Jackson is shown out in May, 2008. Debbie Rowe is shown on 7/9/09. Credit: Fame Pictures

Michael Jackson’s will was officially filed this morning in California. Everyone is already combing through the will, which was written in 2002. It actually doesn’t seem too crazy – Michael specifies that the entirety of his assets should be assigned to the Michael Jackson Family Trust, and names three co-executors to oversee the trust. Michael specifies guardianship of his children to his mother, Katherine, which probably means that the court hearing in August for the children’s custody will most likely honor Michael’s wishes. The most interesting part is that Michael’s will has a codicil that states that if Katherine Jackson is unable to care for the kids, “I nominate Diana Ross as guardian of the persons and estates of such minor children.” Diana Ross! That’s so… awesome.

Michael Jackson’s last will has been filed with the court, with a date of July 7, 2002 on it. In the document, Michael leaves everything to the Michael Jackson Family Trust, and names John Branca, John McClain and Barry Siegel as co-Executors. Branca was his lawyer, McClain a music execuive and Siegel was his former accountant, who resigned in 2003.

He also states “I have intentionally omitted to provide for my former wife, Deborah Jean Rowe Jackson,” and gives guardianship of his three children, Michael Jackson Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince Michael II to his mother; however if she is unable to care for the kids, he designated Diana Ross as guardian.

“If any of my children are minors at the time of my death, I nominate my mother, Katherine Jackson as guardian of the persons and estates of such minor children. If Katherine Jackson fails tot survive me, or is unable or unwilling to act as guardian, I nominate Diana Ross as guardian of the persons and estates of such minor children,” reads the will.

Alongside the will, a petition was filed, stating that MJ’s estate is worth a total of $500 million. According to the document, the estate “consists of non-cash, non-liquid assets, including primarily an interest in a catalog of music royalty rights which is currently being administered by Sony-ATV, and interests in various entities.”

[From OK! Magazine]

Diana Ross is the one name I don’t think anyone mentioned as a possible guardian for Michael’s kids. We’ve talked about Katherine Jackson, Joe Jackson, Debbie Rowe, Janet Jackson, Tito, LaToya, everybody else. But then Diana Ross came into the picture and made my day. In all seriousness, Diana Ross and Michael were lifelong friends, and she was probably the closest person Michael had to some kind of mentor/mother figure outside of his family. Diana was instrumental in the success of both the Jackson Five and Michael’s solo career, and she’s one of the few people who knew Michael who hasn’t come out and exploited their relationship in the wake of Michael’s death. She’s a great choice for guardian. Team Diana!

Here’s Diana Ross at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, on December 10th. Images thanks to Fame Pictures .