Michael Jackson’s estate paid $2.5 million to settle sexual abuse claims ahead of biopic release

Michael Jackson’s estate made a quiet payment of $2.5 million earlier this year to five accusers who alleged decades-long sexual abuse by the late pop icon, completing a $16.5 million settlement originally reached in 2020, reported Financial Times.

The accusers, identified as members of the Cascio family, longtime associates of Jackson, have contested the settlement, claiming they were pressured into accepting terms they did not fully understand and alleging they deserve additional compensation.

They seek to bring their allegations into open court, challenging the confidentiality and arbitration clauses in the 2020 agreement under California law that prohibits confidentiality agreements in sexual assault cases.

This legal dispute over the settlement threatens to overshadow the forthcoming Hollywood biopic ‘Michael,’ a $155 million production backed by studios Lionsgate and Universal Pictures, slated for release in April 2026.

In response to new allegations, the Jackson estate initiated court proceedings against Frank Cascio, who once managed the star, accusing him of extortion and seeking to enforce arbitration in line with the prior agreement. The estate describes the abuse claims as false and an extortion attempt, emphasizing that all related disputes should remain confidential under the 2020 settlement terms.

However, the Cascio family alleges the estate exploited their trauma, discouraged them from obtaining legal counsel, and improperly imposed non-disclosure terms. The controversy arises from a turbulent history: Jackson, despite achieving fame from childhood with the Jackson 5 and enduring significant debt by his death in 2009, has had his legacy vigorously managed by co-executors John Branca and John McClain, who have generated over $3 billion in earnings from his estate.

Efforts to rehabilitate Jackson’s image have faced setbacks, notably the 2019 HBO documentary ‘Leaving Neverland,’ featuring detailed testimonies from two other accusers, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, which intensified public scrutiny. The 2020 settlement with the Cascio family was seen as a pragmatic move by the estate to contain further damage, with each accuser receiving roughly $3.3 million over several years.

John Branca defended the estate’s decision, stating in a Financial Times interview, “We survived Leaving Neverland but I’m not sure we could have with those additional allegations... You have no choice. If these people come forward and make these allegations, then Michael is over, his legacy is over, the business is done.” Nevertheless, Branca expressed optimism about the new biopic’s potential, noting a “bullish” market climate with strong anticipation for the film’s release.

A crucial hearing on whether the Cascio siblings’ claims will proceed publicly or remain in private arbitration is set for November 6, 2025, in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Source: The Economic Times
--Agencies