The Michael Jackson estate has begun legal action after a former associate of the late pop star allegedly demanded a payment of $213 million to stop him from going public with new allegations of abuse. The estate has reportedly referred the matter to the US Attorney's Office in LA, basically accusing the former associate of extortion, while also filing an arbitration claim on the basis the new threat violates an earlier secret legal settlement.
According to the Washington Informer, estate co-executor John Branca accuses the former associate of seeking to “exploit Jackson’s legacy for financial gain”, adding that the man’s lawyer “even said to us, if you don’t meet our demands, we’re going to have to share these allegations with a wider group of people. It was a shakedown. Enough is enough”.
Jackson’s music and legacy has become a massive revenue generator under the estate’s management, with Sony Music recently agreeing a $600 million deal to acquire a 50% stake in the musician’s catalogue.
However, at various points since Jackson’s death in 2009, his legacy has been at risk as a result of new allegations of abuse by men who spent time with the musician as children. Similar allegations were made during Jackson’s lifetime, of course, but the one time he was prosecuted he was acquitted.
The greatest challenge for the estate in reputation terms came in 2019 with the high profile ‘Leaving Neverland’ documentary, which put the spotlight on allegations of sexual abuse made by Wade Robson and James Safechuck.
According to reports, around about the time of ‘Leaving Neverland’, the estate approached a group of former associates and friends of Jackson who had previously defended the musician when other allegations of abuse had been made. That group included the unnamed man now accused of extortion.
It seems that the estate hoped members of that group would again defend the late pop star, given they had previously written books and given interviews maintaining Jackson’s innocence. However, when approached in 2019, reports The Informer, “they turned”.
As a result, the following year a secret non-disclosure agreement was negotiated between the estate and five members of the group, each of whom reportedly received a payment of $3 million. “We and they signed this non-disclosure agreement”, Branca explains, “and the non-disclosure said you can’t even tell people there’s an agreement”.
The new demand for another pay-off in excess of $200 million seemingly violates what was agreed in that NDA. The new demand might have been prompted by the new Antoine Fuqua directed biopic, produced with the estate and due for release next spring. Both the estate and Sony Music will be hoping that that movie sparks a surge of interest in Jackson and his music, but any new controversy regarding abuse allegations could scupper that plan.
On the new legal battle that seeks to ensure that doesn’t happen, Branca concludes, “We will continue to manage the estate with the integrity and dedication that Michael deserved. Attempts like this to tarnish his memory for financial gain will not succeed”.
