Janet Jackson has issued a statement on her website from lawyers for the faction of Michael Jackson’s siblings who are still working to have his will declared invalid. For those of you keeping score at home, that’s Janet, Randy and Rebbie. Jermaine and Tito used to be on their side, but both have since joined the “this is crazy” camp for whatever reasons. Their lawyers claim that Michael’s siblings are just concerned about the current executors and want to make sure that the guardianship and will are settled “in a manner that is in the best interests of the children.” This is what Randy tried to claim a couple of weeks ago, but he’s of course half a million in debt and tried to get the estate to pay his child support. Here’s part of the statement:

Since the loss of Michael, Janet, Randy, and Rebbie’s principal concern has been and continues to be for the safety and well-being of Michael’s children, their mother Katherine Jackson, and the entire family. Unfortunately, those people have been harmed by the actions of the executors of Michael’s estate…

The negative media campaign generated by the executors and their agents has been relentless. In recent weeks, the media has received preposterous reports – all now proven to be false – of a purported kidnapping of Katherine Jackson and of physical and verbal abuse of a child. The executors and their agents also recently issued a notice barring Janet, Randy, and Rebbie from visiting their 82 year old mother and Michael’s children. The effect of that notice not only is to damage fundamental family relationships, it is also to isolate Katherine Jackson from anyone questioning the validity of Michael’s will.

It is important to stress that Janet, Randy and Rebbie have questioned the validity of the will with no financial motive whatsoever – they stand to gain nothing financially by a finding that the will is invalid… Michael’s children will be the beneficiaries of Michael’s estate. What will be gained by a finding of invalidity is that the executors will be replaced and the estate and the guardianship will be managed in a manner that is in the best interests of the children, which is what Michael wanted. The individuals who have the most to lose by a finding that the will is invalid are, of course, the executors and those on the executors’ payroll.

Janet, Randy and Rebbie will continue to press forward in their search for the truth in order to carry out the wishes of their brother Michael.

[From JanetJackson.com via Starpulse]

I have a feeling these three are going to be wholly unsuccessful. And if they just have the best interests of the children at heart, why did they try to ambush them at home, and why has Janet only seen them a handful of times since their father died? Janet may not have slapped or “verbally abused” Paris, but there’s video of her trying to swipe Paris’ cell phone. That’s not “best interests,” that’s damage control for Paris’ tweets. Also, it might be true that Katherine wasn’t “kidnapped” per se, but she admitted in court that her cell phone and iPad were taken away and that the phone and television in her hotel room were both disabled.

Meanwhile TMZ reports that Katherine isn’t going to press charges against her children for the little vacation they forced her on without allowing her to contact the grandchildren she was supposed to be caring for. Her lawyer issued a statement suggesting that Katherine wasn’t too pleased about it, though. He told TMZ “This chapter of chaos is closed and we are supportive of family unity in spite of recent events and arguably poor decisions.” Decisions that Janet, Randy and Rebbie are sticking with come hell or high water.

Paris recently posted a photo on Istagram of a mural of Michael Jackson pictures behind her bed. She tweeted that it took her three hours. That’s sweet.

Rebbie Jackson:

Janet is shown at the Amfar Gala on 5-24-12. Rebbie is shown on 11-12-11.

When Katherine Jackson was re-emerging after her over week long “spa vacation” at the insistence of four of her children challenging Michael’s will, she claimed that she voluntarily gave up her phone during the trip. She also took pains to say that she wasn’t taken against her will, and was perfectly happy with her children. When Katherine made that pre-written statement, she was surrounded by five people and the one journalist there wasn’t allowed to ask any questions. Well now a new version is emerging, one that people suspected for some time. In new court papers requesting that Katherine share guardianship with Tito’s son, TJ, she claims to have been tricked into the trip and to have had her cell phone, iPad, and other access to the outside world taken away, including access to a television.

Katherine Jackson has submitted a sworn declaration that says she had no cell phone, no working television or telephone in her room at the Miraval spa, and had her iPad taken away, RadarOnline.com is reporting.

The papers also state she had no idea that Prince, Paris, and Blanket had been trying to reach her.

The Jackson family matriarch says a doctor was brought to the house on July 14, 2012, and “stating he had been in contact with my longtime personal physician and was coming to check on me because my personal physician was unavailable. The doctor advised that it was better for me to fly and not drive to New Mexico. Believing that the doctor was sent at the request of my longtime personal physician, I followed what I understood to be a doctor’s orders and boarded a flight as opposed to driving in the motorhome.”

Katherine says upon arrival at Miraval Spa in Tucson, Ariz. her cell phone was taken away, and “when one of the people asked if I could communicate with my iPad and I replied yes, my iPad was taken away. While there was a telephone in my room, the telephone was not functioning and I could not dial out. In addition, there was no picture on the television in my room.

“Despite repeated requests to those with me to have it fixed, the television was never fixed. One morning I woke up to the sound of the television. While there was no picture, I heard a broadcast that stated I was missing. I was also never told that my attorney, Perry Sanders, Jr. had flown to Tucson in an attempt to meet with me in person in attempts to find out what was going on.”

Jermaine, Janet, Rebbie, and Randy Jackson were staying with their mother at the Miraval Spa.

“I was never informed that Prince, Blanket, and TJ were trying to reach me. Had I known that fact, and if I had been provided with the means to contact Prince, Paris, Blanket and TJ, I would never have gone for such a long period of time without communicating with them.

“While I was away, I had no reason to question whether the people with whom I placed trust would inform me that Prince, Paris, and Blanket were trying to reach me. The day before I was brought home from Tucson, I was finally permitted to use the phone to speak with Prince, Paris, Blanket and TJ.”

Michael’s mom supports her grandson, TJ, being named as co-guardian of the children, and asked the judge for permission to take the kids to Gary, Indiana, for a birthday celebration for the late King of Pop.

“TJ and I along with Prince, Paris, and Blanket are planning to travel out of California toward the end of August for a family function that will include a celebration involving the memory of my grandchildren’s father, and my son, Michael. It is important that security planning and travel arrangements for the trip are made soon so that the trip can go forward.”

The judge signed off on allowing the kids to travel outside the state of California, as long as Katherine and TJ Jackson both agree. The duo are expected to be appointed permanent guardians of the children on August 22.

[From Radar Online]

This explains Jermaine’s change of heart recently – he was ashamed. He should be – who does this to their own mother? Also, Miraval tried to save face when this came out earlier by claiming that Katherine had a working phone in her room, but obviously that wasn’t true.

Fox News reports that plans for a Jackson family reunion, which takes place every summer, have been scrapped in light of this fiasco.

In terms of the children’s guardianship, there’s news that Diana Ross met with them, since she was named in Michael’s will as the children’s alternate guardian. Katherine’s lawyer explained that Diana needed to sign off on the new guardian. He described the meeting as “very thoughtful and pleasant.” Another source told Radar that Ross “only wants what is best for the children,” and that she “hasn’t been a big part of their lives because she lives on the East Coast,” but “is very fond of them.” And I thought those stories about Diana being named alternate guardian weren’t true.

Also, there’s news I heard on D-Listed that La Toya got a reality show on Oprah’s network. That just goes to show that Oprah is kind of scraping bottom, doesn’t it? Not that La Toya won’t be entertaining, especially if she’s interacting with her massively dysfunctional family.

In the ongoing saga of Michael Jackson’s Siblings vs. Michael Jackson’s Other Siblings, we used to have Jermaine, Randy, Janet, Rebbie and Tito on the “challenging the executors” aka “money grab” side, and Marlon and Jackie on the other side. (La Toya remained neutral and urged her family to keep it out of the press.) Around the time that Katherine Jackson was whisked away for an impromptu spa trip without telephone or internet access, Tito switched sides and issued a plea, along with Marlon and Jackie, to have his mother returned home to MJ’s children. Now another Jackson has switched sides. Jermaine, who was one of the three Jacksons who went to MJ’s children’s house to urge the kids to take a little trip to Arizona, has apologized for his part in that well publicized incident. He’s also withdrawing his name from the statement challenging the will and its current executors. Here’s Jermaine’s statement:

In a statement posted to Jermaine’s Twitter account, he says, “After much soul-searching, it is clearly time for us to live by Michael’s words about love not war. In this spirit, I offer this statement by way of extending an olive-branch. Accordingly, I rescind my signature from the letter which was sent to the Estate, and which should never have gone public. I still hold deep reservations about many issues involving the Estate, and I will continue to bring scrutiny and a resolute voice wherever we have cause for concern. But the way to address such matters is through the proper channels and via a private dialogue, not public conflict.”

As previously reported, Randy Jackson was responsible for hatching a family plot to overthrow Michael Jackson’s executors in an attempt to get his hands on part of the late King of Pop’s estimated $1 billion fortune. A letter demanding the executors’ resignation that was leaked to the media, was signed by Randy, Jermaine, Tito, Rebbie and Janet. Tito Jackson publicly said last week he also regretted signing the letter.

Jermaine also admits that Michael’s three children, Prince, Paris and Blanket were unable to talk to their then legal guardian, Katherine Jackson while she was away in Arizona.

“When she was away, and with the children in the responsible care of Tito’s son TJ, there was never a malicious attempt to ‘block’ the kids from talking with her. We simply worried that a call home would first entail, or lead to, conversations with individuals we are in dispute with and that would, therefore, increase pressure on Mother — and pressure was what a doctor said she didn’t need. This was why we went to the house in Calabasas to talk directly with the kids and merely discuss arrangements for them to meet with their grandmother. We were denied that access by security — and it was clear that mutual suspicions had allowed events to spiral out of control. I regret that events were ever allowed to reach such a stage. I regret any distress caused to Prince, Paris and Blanket. That was never, ever the intention of myself, Janet, Rebbie or Randy. Moving forward, the most effective way to best serve Mother’s welfare, and that of Michael’s children, is to start a collective dialogue, in private,” Jermaine revealed.

Jermaine ends the statement by saying, “Mistakes have been made and irrational things have been said on both sides in a highly-charged emotional environment. It is time for us all to draw a line in the sand and move towards peace, co-operation, love and healing. I truly hope that we can find it in our hearts to do so. Because above and beyond anything else, what matters…is family.”

[From Radar]

That was very well written and explains how the situation escalated – both sides didn’t trust the other’s intentions. (Radar has a breakdown on how Jermaine is fudging the truth, but I’m not going to get into that, you can read it there.) I’m still on “team kids,” because it seems like they were just defending themselves against an ambush, one their dad may have even prepared them for. For now they seem to be calling a truce. Paris, Prince and Blanket even went to see their uncles perform in the Unity Tour over the weekend. The Unity Tour consists of Tito, Jackie, Marlon and Jermaine Jackson, who are not-so-coincidentally all on the same side now that Jermaine has withdrawn his support from challenging the will.

Some of you have floated the theory that the executors are paying themselves exorbitant salaries and that’s why MJ’s siblings are so vocally speaking out against it. Even if that’s true, Michael made it clear that he didn’t want his brothers or sisters to get a dime. They’re fighting over money that doesn’t belong to them and probably never will. Radar recently reported that Randy, the ringleader on the money grab side, owes half a million dollars in child support. Jermaine owes child support too, to the same woman, Alejandra, since he married her and had two children with her after Randy broke up with her by marrying another woman without Alejandra’s knowledge. (You can’t make this up, read Wikipedia.) Both brothers have asked MJ’s estate to pay child support to their children from the same woman.

As for Janet’s claims that she isn’t in this for money and is just trying to show solidarity with Randy or something, US Weekly says she’s broke. In their latest issue they have source who claims Janet “has spent far more than she has made, so she needs the money.” Their source also adds that Janet isn’t a doting aunt to MJ’s kids and has “seen them maybe five times since Michael died and has no relationship with them.” Except when it comes to telling them what they should do, right?

Most of these photos are from the Unity Tour on 7-20-12. Credit: WENN.com

Grace Rwaramba is shown in Las Vegas with Michael Jackson’s children in January, 2007. Credit: Ben/Victor/Bauer-Griffin

When Michael Jackson was alive, his kids had a long term nanny named Grace Rwaramba. Michael fired Grace several times for various reasons, once because she tried to stage a drug intervention on him along with Janet and his mother. Grace gave a fascinating interview to the London Times following his death. If you haven’t read it and are interested in MJ, it’s well worth a read. After Michael’s death, Grace worked for Katherine Jackson helping with the children. She’s said to have clashed with Michael’s sister, Rebbie, even allegedly getting in a fistfight with her, and to have disagreed with Katherine on how to raise the kids. I believe that Grace was fired by Katherine around 2010, when a story came out that one of Jermaine’s teen sons had a stun gun. Katherine supposedly thought that Grace leaked the story to the press.

Well Radar Online has a statement from Grace in light of all the drama over the family breaking up into factions over MJ’s estate and the guardianship of the children. Grace’s response is very carefully worded, but she makes it clear that Michael would not want his children in the press like this. She also suggests that Paris is way too young to be on Twitter. Here’s more:

Grace began working for Jackson in 1997, and continued to work on and off for the King of Pop for the next decade, including after he tragically died in 2009.

In an exclusive statement to RadarOnline.com, Grace says, “Everyone knows that Michael went to great lengths to protect his children from the public eye. While the use of veils and masks was unconventional, it only highlights how important this issue was to him. He understood, probably better than anyone, that growing up as a public figure, especially in the entertainment industry can be disaster…The recent drama surrounding Michael’s mother, Katherine, the ongoing custody issues and now the public dispute between Paris and Janet is exactly what Michael wanted to protect his children from. These matters have been further complicated by Gladys Knight and others recent and well intentioned comments about Paris. I have great respect and admiration for Mrs. Knight. And while I agree with the spirit of her comments, attacking Paris in public is not the answer…”

The Jackson siblings made news last week after security video from the house where Michael’s children live was released and showed Janet getting into an altercation with Paris Jackson over the teen’s cell phone. Janet physically tried to take the 14-year-old’s cell phone from her, and the children watched in horror as Jermaine and Randy got into a physical altercation with Trent, who is Joe Jackson’s nephew.

Rwaramba asks that the public be fair to Paris Jackson and “give her a chance to make and learn from her mistakes without demonizing her. She is a spirited, very expressive and dramatic young girl. The traits that made her the apple of her father’s eye are the same traits that she must learn to control as she matures into adulthood. Let’s be careful not to dim her spirit. It breaks my heart to think that Paris and her brothers could become the subject of endless criticism for simply being kids. Michael loved his children very much. He gave them tools that they will need to become good and decent individuals. I am confident that in time, Paris and her brothers will learn that their family loves and wants what’s best for them. Until then, please take her tweets with a grain of salt. No child should have 700,000 followers on Twitter or any other social media platform.”

[From Radar]

What the hell does that mean, that she “agrees with the spirit” of Gladys Knight’s comments? Gladys threatened physical violence to Paris over her use of the F word against her aunt. There’s no “spirit” of discipline under those comments other than corporal punishment. I do agree that Michael wouldn’t have wanted his kids to be in the press so much, and that he would have forbid Paris from Tweeting. I think she’s used the social media platform in a positive way, though, and that both Paris and her older brother Prince used Twitter effectively to get their side of the story out. They stood up for themselves and in that respect Michael taught them well.

Paris’ aunt Janet recently denied a report that she slapped Paris and called her a “spoiled b*tch” during that altercation last week when Janet and Randy tried, unsuccessfully, to get Paris, Prince and Blanket to come with them to Arizona. (Janet, Rebbie, Jermaine and Randy have since been banned from the home where the children are living.) Paris also denied, on Instagram, that Janet slapped her. A surveillance video of the exchange just shows Janet reaching for Paris’ phone twice and failing to grab it. Janet’s attorney told The Insider that “Ms. Jackson did not slap Paris, and did not call her a ‘spoiled little bitch’ or a ‘bitch.‘” I just got “Nasty Boys” in my head. It must be the “Ms. Jackson” part.

These photos of MJ with his kids in masks are from April, 2009, just two months before he died

Photo credit: WENN.com and Bauer-Griffin

The insane amount of details and breaking news on the Jackson family saga has been calming down now that Katherine Jackson has been returned to her grandchildren. It’s of course still not over. We’ve heard Katherine, 82, say that she wasn’t kidnapped by four of her adult children, and that she went to Arizona on her own accord. While Katherine read this statement to ABC news she was surrounded by four people and the single journalist who was there wasn’t allowed to ask a single question. TMZ described it as a “hostage situation.”

Now we’re hearing from Michael’s oldest child, Prince, 15. Prince backs up his sister Paris’ version of events, and even tweeted a screenshot of a text message conversation with three of his aunts to prove that he and his siblings were blocked from contacting his grandmother. Here’s what he wrote on Twitter, and I was impressed by how well written it was:

I would first like to start off this tweet by thanking the fans that have always stood by me and my family, my dad really appreciated your support and I still treasure it to this day. As I am sure everyone is well aware of the events that have been going on. I have been holding off on backing up my sister and her tweets avidly because I was waiting for the time to reveal my side. As long as I can remember my dad had repeatedly warned me of certain people and their ways. Although I am happy my grandma was returned, after speaking with her I realized how misguided and how badly she was lied to. I’m really angry and hurt. The following image is of a group chat I had started to several family members. This group text message I had started was replied to but they didn’t know that I could see the responses. For this whole time, they denied us contact to our grandmother. “If you continue with your lies I will continue with the truth”

[From Prince Jackson's Twitter]

There was a story that Prince’s Twitter account was “hacked” to post this message, but Paris claimed on Twitter that this tweet from Prince is genuine, and that the message claiming he was hacked was actually someone with unauthorized access trying to discredit him. She wrote:

“the thing my brother tweeted last night was the last true thing he tweeted.. he was hacked saying what we tweeted was false..”

These poor kids.

There’s of course a lot of other news in this case, and I’ll briefly include it here. A staff member for the Miraval resort where Katherine Jackson was staying last week has issued a statement claiming that she had full access to a working phone at all times. It looked to me like they comped part of her stay in exchange for the free publicity. (Their PR person was with them during Katherine’s statement and Katherine mentioned their name several times.) They probably realized that the circumstances made them look complicit in cutting Katherine off from the outside world.

Katherine is said to have had an “emotional reunion” with the kids with the youngest child, Blanket, 10, “especially traumatized by Katherine leaving because he is extremely close to her and was absolutely lost without her.” She’s since met with her lawyer about working to have her guardianship of the children reinstated after it was temporarily awarded to their cousin, TJ, in her absence. Katherine’s lawyer also denied reports that she suffered a stroke.

So what’s next for this incredibly dysfunctional family? How is Katherine going to serve as an effective guardian for the children when she seems to be so easily controlled by the faction of Jacksons working to take over Michael’s estate? Will safeguards be put in place to ensure that the kids aren’t separated from her again? It sounds like they’re trying to make sure that happens, but this lady is 82. She’s not going to be able to watch those kids forever. Hopefully she’ll be able to care for them until Prince is 18 and can legally stand on his own. We’ve seen that those kids definitely have the wherewithal to stand up to their greedy aunts and uncles.

After I wrote this story, the news broke that La Toya, the one sibling of Michael Jackson’s who had yet to take sides, has told TMZ off the record that she wants her family to work out their issues in private and not through the press. Who would have thought that La Toya would be the sane one?

Another day, more countless stories in the latest Jackson family saga. As you know, matriarch Katherine Jackson, 82, went ‘missing’ and was separated from her grandchildren for over a week. Four of Michael’s siblings are challenging his will, the same four who took Katherine to Arizona for a ‘rest.’ MJ’s children are upset that their grandmother is gone, and they refused to leave their home after a confrontation with aunt Janet, and uncles Jermaine and Randy on Monday.

The latest news is that Katherine has spoken out to the press to deny that she was missing. (video is above) She claimed, unconvincingly, that it was her idea to give up her phone for a week. She’s also been stripped of guardianship of the children, and the $86,000 a month that the MJ estate pays her for that, after a judge issued a temporary order to appoint Tito’s 34 year-old son, TJ, guardian. Here’s a breakdown of the major developments.

Katherine says she’s fine and that the trip was her choice
Katherine made a prepared statement to ABC news from the Miraval spa in Arizona where she’s been staying. She was flanked by her daughters Rebbie and Janet, her son Jermaine, Rebbie’s daughter, and a spa employee. The ABC journalist was not allowed to ask a single question. Katherine said that she’s not being held against her will, that she willingly gave up her phone, and that her assistant kept in touch with the children while she was away.

Katherine claims that the handover of guardianship is “based on lies”
Katherine is of course upset to lose guardianship, and claims the handover is “based on lies.” She seems to think it’s some kind of plot against her, and given all that’s going on with this family it may well be. She also said that someone fired the cook, the housekeepers, and the nanny while she was away. You can read her full statement here, and a video is here and above. She says she’s returning to be with her grandchildren. Radar claims Katherine won’t be returning to the rental home where she was living with her grandchildren and will be staying at “The Jackson family compound in Encino.”

According to Paris’ most recent tweets, Katherine has returned to the rental home in Calabasas where she was previously living with the children. It’s unclear if she will be staying there.

Katherine called grandchildren yesterday, sounded “drunk,” tried to replace their security team with Janet’s staff
Katherine placed a call to her grandchildren yesterday. TMZ has her calling twice, at 2am and 4am Wednesday morning. Radar doesn’t have a time frame, but also claims that Katherine sounded drugged or drunk, which is concerning since she’s a Jehovah’s Witness and they don’t drink alcohol. (At least they’re not supposed to get drunk or something.)

Radar’s source says that “When Paris spoke to Katherine last night she sounded like she was drunk. Paris repeatedly asked her, are you ok, and Mrs. Jackson was slurring her words. I was told that it appears that Katherine was given alcohol during the time she was staying at Miraval, and remember, it was stated in court today that she had recently been diagnosed with high blood pressure. Katherine is extremely upset and distraught to learn that she lost custody of the children, but is hopeful she will be re-instated as their legal guardian very shortly.”

TMZ claims Katherine called the house and tried to replace the children’s security team with Janet’s staff. Ridiculous. Here’s their story. (Update: Trent is Katherine’s nephew.)

Sources involved in the situation tell TMZ … people in the house were “alarmed and nervous” after hearing Katherine sounding heavily drugged.

In addition to attempting to 86 the security team, Katherine ordered Trent Jackson off the property. You may recall, Jackson’s security — and Trent in particular — thwarted Monday’s attempt by Randy, Jermaine and Janet to take the kids to Arizona.

Our sources say the prevailing view is that Randy and company have drugged their mom.

[From TMZ]

MJ’s kids and his three brothers who aren’t in on the scheme aren’t buying it
As we heard yesterday, Tito, Marlon and Jackie do not agree with the way that Jermaine, Randy, Janet and Rebbie have contested the will. They’re extremely concerned that they’ve been blocked from contacting their mother while she’s been in the care of their siblings. Paris recently retweeted a message from her uncle Marlon:
“I’m tired of not knowing where my mom is. I did speak with her last night but she didn’t sound like herself. I was told by Janet, Randy and Jermaine that I could not see my mom. Doctor’s order. But I see them on television with her. How come they could not call me so I could be with her as well.”

Katherine is back with her grandchildren, but may not earn guardianship back
Paris tweeted at about 11:50 pm PST that her grandmother was back. So I guess we can assume she’s returning to the rental home with her grandchildren, although it’s hard to tell what’s going on.

As for what’s next now that a temporary guardian has been appointed in Katherine’s place, TMZ claims that this whole plot to gain control of Katherine and contest the will may have backfired, because Katherine stands to lose all the perks she was getting from the estate for caring for the kids. (E! has child support at $86k a month, but TMZ claims she doesn’t get that money directly, just the ‘perks,’) Here’s their story:

The judge is now in position to strip Katherine of guardianship altogether. If that happens, the executors will almost certainly petition the court to funnel the money in TJ’s direction, since he would be caring for the children.

Katherine never had control of the money for the kids, but she enjoys a lot of the perks the kids get, and that goes away if she loses guardianship. She would still, of course, retain the allowance he personally receives from the Estate.

Short story … Randy, Jermaine, Janet and Rebbie set out to turn Katherine against the estate so she could get more money during her lifetime — money she could dole out to them — but the plot may have actually screwed Katherine.

[From TMZ]

Also, 84 year-old Joe is back! He came in from Vegas to stay in the Encino compound, not the home where the kids are living in Calabasas. I can’t with this family. This is outrageous. Janet, Rebbie, Jermaine and Randy should be ashamed of themselves. This is all about money, and it’s hard to see otherwise at all.

These photos are from April, 2012, and July and November, 2011. Credit: WENN.com

Yesterday we heard about a confrontation at the home where Michael Jackson’s children were staying. Michael’s three children: Paris, Prince, and Blanket, were confronted by their aunt Janet and uncles Jermaine and Randy, who had arrived by private plane and had attempted, unsuccessfully, to get the children to come with them to Arizona. The police were called, the children’s security force stepped in, and it all sounded pretty serious.

This incident came after the children’s court-appointed caregiver, their 82 year-old grandmother Katherine Jackson, was taken to Arizona, (seemingly without the children’s knowledge although reports vary) for over a week. Katherine’s grandchildren were unable to contact her during that time and she did not phone or text them. Randy later issued a statement that claimed Katherine was cut off from technology on doctor’s orders. It was all shady as hell, and pointed to a money grab by Michael Jackson’s siblings, who were cut out of his will in favor of Michael’s mother, and his children.

There are a lot of new developments in this story, most notably allegations of violence during that confrontation with the children along with a surveillance video that has been released. I’ll just cover the highlights and link these stories below. The gist is that some of Michael’s siblings are doing whatever they can to get their hands on his fortune, and his kids are fighting back.

Note that Michael has three sisters: Rebbie, La Toya, and Janet, and five brothers: Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Randy. Jermaine, Randy, Janet and Rebbie are behind the plot to overthrow the executors of MJ’s estate and signed a letter to that effect on July 17th. Tito previously supported the letter, but has since recanted. Marlon and Jackie have also come out against the letter, and LaToya has not yet made a statement.

We haven’t covered this story yet as it’s complicated, there are a lot of different versions floating around, and I was hoping it would be resolved without incident. Not so much. As you may have heard over the weekend, Michael Jackson’s mom Katherine, 82, went “missing” for over a week. Katherine is the primary caregiver for Michael’s three children: Prince, 15, Paris, 14, and Blanket, 10. A missing person’s report was filed on Katherine, an investigation ensued and has since been closed. Jermaine issued a statement that Katherine was resting in Arizona with her daughter, Rebbie, “following doctor’s orders to rest-up and de-stress, away from phones and computers.” Paris tweeted late Monday that she hadn’t spoken to her grandmother in 8 days and that “something is really off , this isn’t like her at all.”

Radar claims that the idea to whisk Katherine off for a week at “a spa” was Janet’s idea, who felt that the situation at home was too stressful for Katherine. TMZ confirms that the “chaos” at the house led to Katherine’s removal, but more than that Michael’s siblings want to challenge his will, which leaves 20% to Katherine and virtually nothing to them. E! has an article outlining all that’s at stake in this, and what would happen if Katherine was removed as the children’s guardian.

Meanwhile Michael’s children have a security team and are being cared for by a nanny. On Monday Jermaine, Randy and Janet went to Katherine’s Calabasas home in an attempt to remove the children, but security guards blocked them, Prince refused to go and the cops were called. The kids still haven’t spoken to their grandmother, according to Paris’ most recent tweets. However, paparazzi agency X17 claims that the children knew Katherine was leaving. They also have a photo of her playing Uno with family. Here’s more on the latest, thanks to Radar:

Jermaine, Randy and Janet Jackson have been barred from their mother Katherine’s Calabasas home after attempting to remove their brother Michael’s three children from the house on Monday, RadarOnline.com is exclusively reporting.

The situation adds to the ongoing drama with the Jackson family, as Katherine has been in Arizona for more than a week and hasn’t spoken to her grandchildren, of whom she is the legal guardian. “It was just total chaos when Jermaine, Randy and Janet descended on the house.

“Randy was telling Prince Michael he had to leave with them and that he had a private jet chartered to take them all to Arizona to see Katherine. Prince firmly held his ground and told Randy he wasn’t going anywhere with them. The security detail prevented the three of them from taking the kids out of state. The cops had to be called and Janet kept saying they had a legal right to be at the house when in fact they don’t. The rental house is in the name of Michael Jackson’s estate, so they were told to leave immediately. For the time being, they won’t be allowed to come back to the rental house and guards at the security gate have been told under no circumstances are they to allow them in. Paris was absolutely hysterical and kept telling her uncles to just bring her grandmother home,” a source close to the situation tells RadarOnline.com.

“The plan to take the kids out of the house was going to be a publicity stunt. The kids were going to be paraded into the house in Arizona where Katherine is staying and those photos would be published on a website favored by Randy Jackson.”

As previously reported Janet was behind Katherine’s removal from her home to Arizona, after becoming adamant that her mom needed bed rest and to be checked out by an independent doctor. And a source has revealed that Katherine is doing just fine.

“Katherine is very well,” a family member told RadarOnline.com. “Janet was behind the whole thing – she felt that Katherine needed medical help and was desperate for her to get some bed rest.”

“Michael’s children are being cared for by their nanny and legal options are being explored about ensuring their safety. The children are very, very smart and they are surrounded by excellent bodyguards that won’t allow anything unsavory to happen to them. The kids just want their grandmother back, and want the family drama to end. Now that Paris and Prince are old enough, they understand why Michael didn’t have much of a relationship with anyone in the family except for Katherine,” the source says.

[From Radar Online]

What a mess this is, and how unfair it is to the kids. They lost their dad, and now their aunts and uncles are trying to take their grandmother from them in order to get their mitts on their late dad’s money. They’ve been placed in a very tough spot, and good for them for standing their ground. From the interviews I’ve seen with Paris, she comes across as very mature and even humble. I hope those kids stick together and refuse to be manipulated. They should inherit their dad’s money as he intended, but obviously their relatives want it for themselves.

As for Katherine’s health, she was at “a spa” not a hospital. Paris tweeted some insight about her grandmother’s condition. “the same doctor that testified on behalf of dr murray saying my father was a drug addict (a lie) is caring for my grandmother… just saying.” What kind of doctor cuts their patient off from a phone or Internet for over a week? Who prevents their own mother from contacting the kids she’s supposed to be caring for? Maybe I’m wrong, maybe there’s more going on behind the scenes than we know, but it looks like a money grab from here.

These photos are from 1-26-12. Credit: WENN.com and FameFlynet

You know how Lindsay Lohan was too coked up in Hawaii to bother coming back to LA on time to make a scheduled stop on the Ellen DeGeneres show? (Which would have been her only tv interview promoting her Playboy cover.) Well Ellen found a much more gracious guest in the late Michael Jackson’s daughter, Paris, 13. Radar Online has a video preview of Paris’ interview, which will air on Thursday. Paris was a little nervous on Ellen, but I was so impressed by how genuine and down to earth she seemed. She’s a normal kid, and she didn’t come across like she was entitled or spoiled at all, like so many other children of celebrities I won’t name who names start with “Will,” “Jada” and “Kris.” (And it’s not those kids’ faults at all.) Paris recently landed a role in a live action animation film called Lundon’s Bridge and the Three Keys based on a book series. She explained to Ellen that she’s wanted to act since she was a child and that she used to do improv with her dad. After some of the very sad and heartbreaking things we’ve heard about Paris and her brothers during the trial of Dr. Murray, it was so nice to see her happy and well. Here’s some of what she said:

Paris told Ellen that she’s enjoying school and feels like she’s having a normal childhood. Despite her famous family, Paris said she wasn’t recognized by her classmates, which gives her “a chance to be normal.”

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“They didn’t know who you were because you used to wear masks all the time,” Ellen remarked. “When you would wear the masks do you remember thinking, because obviously your dad did that to protect you so nobody would know who you are and you could go out and have a regular life.

“Do you remember wearing a mask and going this is kind of weird?” Ellen asked Paris, who said, “Yeah, I’m like, ‘This is stupid, why am I wearing a mask?’ But, I, kind of realized the older I got, like he only tried to protect us and he’d explain that to us too.”

In another candid moment, Paris shared with Ellen the most memorable thing her late father told her.

“He said, ‘If I die tomorrow, always remember what I told you,” Paris recalled. “I took his advice and I remembered everything he told me.’”

[From Radar Online]

For all you can say about Micheal Jackson, and you can say a hell of a lot about him, he seems to have raised some great kids, particularly his daughter. I hope Paris does well in her career, and I also hope she’s able to keep that sense of normalcy she values so much. You know that if Michael was still alive we probably would still have no idea what his kids look like. It seemed strange to cover their faces, as Paris admitted here, but he seems to have known what he was doing. I found this interview kind of touching. Ellen was probably ultimately happy that Lindsay didn’t show. She avoided a ton of drama with that one.

Paris Jackson is shown on 12/3/11 at the premiere of Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson’s ‘The Immortal World Tour’ in Las Vegas. Photo Credit: Judy Eddy/WENN.com

Jackson’s kids at his tribute concert.

Yesterday we heard that a photo of Michael Jackson nude after he was deceased and was laid out was shown on live television during the trial of Jackson’s doctor, Conrad Murray. The Daily Mail, TMZ and The Mirror have published the photo of Jackson and none gave a warning about it or obscured the photo other than covering his private parts, which was already a part of the image before it was shown in the courtroom. (I’m not going to post the links here, you can find them easily enough if you’re interested.) I was really shocked and saddened to see the photo right on TMZ’s website and on the front page without a lead-in. Even though this is my job, I probably wouldn’t have clicked on it if they would have given me a choice. I don’t like to see dead people, and there’s something so really heart-wrenching to me about the fact that we’re able to see this. I know that sounds melodramatic: Jackson was a public figure, he had a reputation as a pedophile, and he was a drug addict. Still, he was somebody’s father, brother and son and he was so private he covered his kids’ faces when they went out. He wouldn’t have wanted anyone to see him like that, and his kids don’t need to be confronted with that image whenever they want to do a google search on it.

I was also upset to hear that the details of Michael’s kids’ reactions to his death were made public a couple of weeks ago as part of the trial. Of course they were distraught and crying and screaming. That’s how people react when a family member dies! There was also more revealed yesterday about what Paris said in the wake of her dad’s death. We don’t need to know that!

We’re not covering the Jackson trial much here because it’s just not our usual fare. This is sad, it’s depressing and apart from some colorful witnesses there hasn’t been much to report. What do you even say about it though? None of this trial should have been open to the media and the details just don’t seem that interesting to me. Once a verdict is reached, we’ll probably cover it though. RIP Michael.

Jackson’s kids are shown at his tribute concert on 10/18/11. Credit: WENN.com