Michael Jackson's Children Face Uncertain Future
Categories: Celeb Kids, In The News
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson, center, wearing a traditional Arabic woman's veil and all-covering gown called an abaya, with his son, Prince Michael II, also veiled, as they walk in Bahrain in 2006.
Hasan Jamali, AP
Michael Jackson, center, is supported by his security personnel as he walks into the courthouse with his father Joe Jackson, right, after arriving late to Santa Barbara County Superior Court, on March 10, 2005.
Kimberly White, Pool / AP
Michael Jackson applauds his fans while on top of his car after his arraignment on child molestation charges in Santa Maria, California on January 16, 2003.
Hector Mata, AFP / Getty Images
Michael Jackson's booking photo and personal information shown in this copy of a release from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department after Jackson was booked on child molestation charges in Santa Barbara, CA, on November 20, 2003.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department / AP
Michael Jackson holds his eight-month-old son Prince Michael II over the balcony of the Adlon Hotel in 2002 in Berlin, Germany. Jackson was in Berlin with his three children to accept a lifetime achievement award.
Olaf Selchow, Getty Images
Minders escort the veiled children of Michael Jackson as they visit the Berlin Zoo in November 2002.
Sadek Hamaiel, Getty Images
Michael Jackson holds an unidentified child as he stands in the window of his suite in the Adlon hotel in Berlin.
Jockel Finck, AP
A masked Jackson traveling in Berlin, Germany.
Eric Richard, Getty Images
Michael Jackson testifies during his civil trial in Santa Maria Superior Court on December 3, 2002 in Santa Maria, California.
Jim Ruyman, Pool / Getty Images
Michael Jackson testifies in Santa Barbara County Superior Court, on November 13, 2002 in Santa Maria, CA.
Spencer Weiner, Pool / AP
Who will end up raising Michael Jackson's three children? No one is sure right now. The fate of Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and 6-year-old Prince Michaell II ("Blanket") may be decided in a courtroom. Debbie Rowe, mother to Prince and Paris, allegedly gave up her parental rights to the kids not once, but twice. Jackson never publicly acknowledged who Blanket's mother was, claiming that the child was conceived using a surrogate he never met "and my own sperm cells."
"If the [surrogate] mother did not relinquish her parental rights, she can seek custody," attorney Gloria Allred told the "New York Daily News" yesterday. "If he indicated in his will the person whom he wishes to serve as guardian, then the court will give great weight to his preference." But who Jackson might have named as guardian is still a mystery.
What's left of the singer's vast but dwindling fortune (reports say that Jackson was $500 million in debt at the time of his death) is certain to play a role in the legal battler over the children, and some sources close to the family said that ex-wife Rowe may take custody of all three kids, despite her earlier relinquishment of her rights.
What is certain is that there are three kids who woke up this morning without a father. No matter how flawed Jackson may have been, there were small people who depended on him, and whose world will never be the same again. The lavish lifestyle bestowed on them by their increasingly indebted dad has disappeared, and any stability they may have had along with it. Our hearts go out to the Jackson kids.
Recent Posts
- G.I. Joe, My Little Pony Invading TV With New Children's Network (2/09/2010)
- Movies May Influence Children's Food Choices, Study Shows (2/09/2010)
- Report Cites 220 Cases of D.C. Teachers Abusing Students (2/09/2010)
- Chicago Candidate Drops Out of Race With Tearful Child On Display (2/09/2010)
- Juicy, But Not Juice (2/09/2010)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Diana 6-30-2009 @ 10:05AM
I hope the Jacksons end up with the three children together. Its a sad thing for children for sure. Their mother doesnt deserve them, absent parent for so long. The children know the Jackson family and will be better off with them. I hope they have Grandparents rights in their state.
My state of Florida doesnt have grand parents rights, and I have written everyone, including the President trying to get this law changed. I miss my grand children so much, I raised the baby most of his last two years, and he is going to be three next month.
Grandparents before its to late for you, please write your congressman, legislator, and President for grand parents rights.
Reply
Heather 6-27-2009 @ 7:19PM
A judge did overturn her "giving up the kids" so she has the right to them. Mind you she did pretty much sell them to him so is that a good choice?
His parents? Look how Michael and his siblings were treated as kids. Are they the best option? Probably not.
Both Janet and Latoya have been in the news for thier problems as well.
Randy actually seems stable from what we can see of him on American Idol. The others have also mostly stayed out of the news as well.
It is going to be fight and mostly likely not with the best interest of the kids in mind. I hope they get a good judge who can see through all the BS and find someone who actually has the best interest of the kids in mind.
Reply
isisaquaria 6-28-2009 @ 12:17AM
RANDY JACKSON OF AI IS NOT A RELATIVE OF MICHAEL.
isisaquaria 6-28-2009 @ 12:26AM
Steven Randall Jackson was born Oct 1961 and is Michael's brother.
Randall Darius Jackson was born June 1956 and is the judge on AI
not related.
Reply
kerry 6-28-2009 @ 3:28PM
i think the children should go on with their lifes out of the spot light as they always have. it seems that he has raised them well and the support that they have had all their lifes should not change. it will be hard for them,he was their only parent,but the jackson's are a big family with a lot of love and support for the 3 of them. i think that Debbie Rowe's involment should stay the same as well. if she does get them they should still keep their nanny's,teacher's and support groups that they have now. in other words " LEAVE THOSE KIDS ALONE " their lifes may not be normal to US but it is to THEM!! god bless them in all they must go threw and god bless Michael for every thing he has done for the world.
Reply