Deceased singer Michael Jackson's sisters and brother, who lately have been involved in a bizarre family meltdown, are accusing the executors of Michael's estate of engaging in a negative publicity campaign against them filled with lies — and they're once again suggesting that their dead brother's will is not authentic.
In the latest development in a protracted battle with the estate's executors, John Branca and John McClain, Janet Jackson's attorney issued a statement on behalf of Janet and her siblings, Randy and Rebbie, on Friday, suggesting that Branca and McClain have planted false stories about the siblings in the media, and accusing the two executors of trying to drive a wedge between them and their mother, family matriarch Katherine Jackson.
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"The negative media campaign generated by the executors and their agents has been relentless," the statement reads. "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 [presumably, referring to Michael's daughter, Paris, with whom Janet had reportedly sparred]."
The statement continues, "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."
The siblings have been at war with Branca and McClain since they penned a letter suggesting that Michael's will was "fake, flawed and fraudulent." (Their siblings Jermaine and Tito, who initially signed the letter as well, have subsequently disavowed the document.)
While once again bringing the validity of the will into question, Randy, Janet and Rebbie say they have no financial motive in making their claims.
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"That point is worth repeating — they stand to gain nothing financially by a finding that the will is invalid," the statement reads. "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 the best interests of the children, which is what Michael wanted."
On Thursday, Katherine was reinstated as co-guardian of Michael's three children — Prince, Paris and Blanket — after guardianship was temporarily transferred to the children's cousin, Tito "T.J." Jackson, while Katherine was holed up in Arizona under mysterious circumstances for nearly two weeks. Tito Jackson is now the co-guardian.
Court papers filed in relation to the guardianship say that the Jackson family matriarch was cut off from communication from the outside world during her stay in Tucson and was never told that her grandchildren were trying to get in touch with her.