- By Sidhi Agarwall
- Sat, 25 Apr 2026 02:45 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Late pop icon Michael Jackson is facing a serious new wave of sexual abuse allegations. Four siblings from New Jersey have filed a federal lawsuit claiming they were "groomed and brainwashed" by the superstar for over a decade. The legal action, which naming the Jackson estate and its lead attorneys as defendants, asserts that the singer's entourage and handlers "willingly enabled it all."
The lawsuit, originally filed in February, gained global attention on April 25, 2026, after the siblings gave an extensive interview to the New York Times. The timing of the revelation is significant, as it coincides with the worldwide theatrical release of the Lionsgate biopic "Michael", starring the singer’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson.
New Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Hits Michael Jackson Estate As Biopic Arrives In Cinemas
The plaintiffs identified as Edward, Dominic, Aldo, and Marie-Nicole Cascio allege that the abuse began when they were as young as seven years old. The siblings met Jackson through their father, who worked at a luxury hotel where the singer frequently stayed. According to the complaint, the abuse took place in various locations around the world during concert tours and even within the family’s own home in New Jersey.
The disturbing complaint states, “Michael Jackson was a serial child predator who, over the course of more than a decade, drugged, raped and sexually assaulted each of the Plaintiffs, beginning when some of them were as young as seven or eight. Jackson’s attacks on these siblings went on for extended periods, including in locations around the world and when Jackson and his children were guests in Plaintiffs’ family home. Jackson groomed and brainwashed each Plaintiff, without the knowledge of the others or their parents, throughout their childhood years.”
The siblings claim that Jackson used drugs, alcohol, and lavish gifts to isolate them emotionally from their parents and each other. In response to the filing, representatives for the Michael Jackson estate have hit back, labelling the lawsuit a "shakedown attempt" and a "desperate money grab." Attorney Martin Singer, representing the estate, pointed out that the Cascio family had publicly defended Jackson’s innocence for over 25 years.
In an official statement, Singer remarked, “This lawsuit is a desperate money grab by additional members of the Cascio family. The family staunchly defended Michael Jackson for more than 25 years, attesting to his innocence of inappropriate conduct. This new court filing is a transparent forum-shopping tactic in their scheme to obtain hundreds of millions of dollars from Michael’s estate and companies. The Cascios spent decades defending and affirming Michael’s innocence. Notably, these shakedown attempts come more than 15 years after Michael’s death, thus carrying no risk of being sued for defamation. Sadly, in death just as in life, Michael’s talents and success continue to make him a target.”
While the legal battle intensifies, the biopic Michael has seen a record-breaking start at the box office, despite the controversy and mixed reviews from critics.