Jermaine Jackson retracts his claim to brother Michael's money
Thursday 02 August 2012
After it looked to be stalemate in the Jackson family as they continue to feud over who has access to Michael's £323 million fortune, it appears that one Jackson sibling is ready to back down.
Jermaine has called for an end to the drama and has offered to retract his signature from a letter to his brother Michael’s estate executors asking them to resign amid allegations that the King of Pop’s will was a fake. Originally he had supported a bid with his siblings to dispute the will.
The 57-year-old posted a message on his Twitter account that said: ‘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.’
Michael Jackson's 3 children pose with Justin Bieber and grandmother Katherine
The Jackson 5 star added his deep regret over the way his mother Katherine’s 10-day trip to Arizona had made headlines when a missing person’s report was filed. The trip resulted in an alleged confrontation between Michael’s children and their uncles Jermaine and Randy, and aunt Janet.
While Katherine was away a judge stripped her of the guardianship of Michael’s children Prince, 15, Paris, 14, and ten-year-old Blanket. Their older cousin TJ, Tito’s son, was given temporary custody.
Jermaine added: '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.'
Michael’s brother went on to say that the family are still recovering from their brother’s death, aged 50, three years ago, with Katherine in particular having been under ‘incredible stress and pressure.’
Despite consistently insisting that attempts at conversation between the children and their grandmother were not blocked, Jermaine admitted in a statement that some elements of the rumours were true.
He said: '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.'
Paris in particular, had urgently expressed her desire to speak to her 'missing' guardian, posting via Twitter: 'I wanna talk directly to my grandmother.'
Once Michael’s children turm 18, they will receive all of the money but until then ownership of the inheritance is up to their legal guardian.
Attorneys are still trying to untangle some of the issues that the family dispute has created. Katherine Jackson's lawyer Perry Sanders Jr. said lawyers will return to court on Thursday to present an agreement to restore Katherine as a guardian.
The agreement will also call for TJ to remain a co-guardian, with control over the staff and day-to-day operations of the home where Katherine and her grandchildren currently live.
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Jackson family in feud over his fortune