Michael Jackson’s friend Mark Lester was on The Today Show this morning telling Matt Lauer that he once donated sperm to Michael and suspects he may be the biological father to Jackson’s daughter Paris, 11. Lester claimed he was motivated by the fact that details of his story were about to come out in the British press, but I find that confusing because the news came out over two weeks ago that Lester thought he could be Paris’ dad. Lester, the godfather of all of Jackson’s children, says he doesn’t want money and doesn’t want to change the arrangements the Jacksons have to care for the children. He claims he only wants to be in contact with them and maybe visit with them once as year, as he did with his family and Michael’s family throughout their long friendship:

As he sang falsetto in the Oscar-winning 1968 Best Picture musical Oliver!, “Where Is Love?” former child actor Mark Lester, in this case, has to face the tune of “Where Is the DNA Test?”

Lester, who lays claim to being the godfather of Michael Jackson’s three children as well as the sperm donor in the conception of Paris Jackson, 11 – further presented his case – while simultaneously backtracking – on Friday morning’s Today show.

On the question of whether or not he is Paris Jackson’s biological father, lester said he had “no idea, and even if I was, it would make absolutely no difference to the status quo of the family.”

Today a chiropractor and father of four daughters in London, Lester, 51, said that years ago in phone conversations with Jackson, the pop star sought Lester’s sperm because Michael “wanted kids but was anxious about sex.”

Jackson was “shy when it came to women,” said Lester, who added it was difficult for his friend to perform the sexual act.

Even so, pressed interviewer Matt Lauer, why did Michael Jackson need Mark Lester’s sperm?

“That I don’t know,” said Lester, whose original claims were made in a British tabloid report. He told Lauer that he stepped forward because “the story was going to break in any event,” and he wanted to present his own case.

While Lester’s ex-wife has subsequently stepped forward on her own to dispute her former spouse’s declarations – Lester countered by calling her “a difficult woman” – Michael’s mother, Katherine Jackson, has said Lester’s claims are not in the best interests of her grandchildren.

[From People]

So this guy went on television to say he thinks he might be Paris’ dad but he just wants to be able to see her? It just doesn’t make complete sense to me. Lester started laughing nervously when Lauer asked him if he wanted money, and I think that means the answer is “yes,” although he denied it. I’ll have to have my friend Eyes for Lies view this video and let me know if she thinks he’s telling the truth. It’s all very suspect to me, though, because his reasons for doing it don’t add up. It doesn’t seem true that he’s coming out with the news now because it’s about to break in the British press – we heard this ages ago, news-cycle wise. Why would claim this just to get in contact with the children? Can’t he send a nice letter and make an appeal that way? Maybe he tried that and it didn’t work. I’m not really buying it, though, and I think this guy is motivated by money somehow. I just don’t get an entirely sincere vibe from him. He doesn’t seem as sneaky as Dr. Arnie Klein, but he definitely seems to have an agenda.