What Will Happen To Michael Jackson's Children?
The death of Michael Jackson at the age of 50 has raised many questions about his health, finances, and legacy. But at the top of many people's list of questions is the fate of his three children: How are they coping, and who will get custody of them?
Debbie Rowe, a nurse who Jackson married in 1996 and divorced in 1999, is the mother of Prince Michael, 12, and Paris, 11; Prince Michael II (also known as Blanket), 7, was reportedly born to a surrogate mother, whose name has never been released.
A former Jackson attorney and family friend, Brian Oxman, told Radaronline Thursday that Katherine Jackson, Michael's mother, is the likeliest candidate to initially look after the children:
"Probably Mrs. Jackson will take care of them, she loves them dearly," Oxman said.... [The children] are currently still in L.A. and with a nanny."
Oxman later told "The Early Show":
"I suspect that the death of Michael Jackson is only the beginning of the legal battles over not only his property, but also his children."
Debbie Rowe could also make a play for Prince Michael and Paris. It is unknown if Jackson designated a guardian for the children in a will, but Rowe could claim that her care is in the best interest of her children, and head to court. E! reports:
If Rowe decides to make a bid for at least the two children she carried, she has quite a case, too....
Although many reports indicate Rowe legally waived her parental rights over the two kids after her divorce from Jackson, that decision actually was reversed by a judge. Eventually Jackson and Rowe reached a specific agreement of their own: Rowe retained parental rights and got a fat check while Jackson retained custody.
The children, who have lived at Neverland Ranch and in Ireland and Bahrain, were most often seen in public with their faces covered by veils or masks. In 2002, Jackson was highly criticized when he dangled Blanket, then an infant, over the balcony of a Berlin hotel to show him to screaming fans below.
The three children, like Michael and his siblings, will be growing up amid a blizzard of media attention. While the Jackson family is often in the spotlight for their tumultuous relationships, this may provide an opportunity for the family to heal past wounds.
Mark Lester, godfather to Jackson's children, told the "Today" show:
"The Jackson family is a very large family, and, you know, in times of need families get together and put aside all the differences."
See the full interview below:
I never met the guy however, he had a huge impact on Pop Culture and Pop Music...arguably the most of any music star..ever! His death should remind everyone of their own immortality and that we have to live everyday like it's the last!
RIP
If only the people he had surrounded himself with had had the guts to tell him the truth instead of telling him everything he wanted to hear and pushing him further down that slippery slope of self delusion.
I love you MJ, neva believed the BS going about you, you are the king of pop, never to be replaced. R.I.P.
And as far as the pedofile talk, no one really knows the truth. How easy is it for any kid to say, "yeah, michael was touching me" and then bam, michael has to pay the kids family millions.
All I know is that he has done more for humanity than I ever will.. and for that I am grateful.
Politicians and priests on the other hand, point their fingers to morally condemn.. pass laws that puts people in jail... yet they are all crooks.
I am not trying to go there...but what in the hello does looking black mean? My children are biracial and I hear that all the time and I am the mother (Black)...not light skinned with green eyes, but dark brown with naturally curly hair... what does looking black mean...if you do not know his family history, then you shouldn't say his kids doesn't look black...black people come in all shades...please don't be so ignorant....and this is directed towards you...no matter what your race is...ignorance hits all races..