In search of justice or profit. What you Need to Know about the Michael Jackson Case

At the beginning of the year, the heirs of American singer Michael Jackson transferred about $2.5 million to plaintiffs who claimed that the artist had committed sexual crimes against them during his lifetime. With this payment, the parties finally closed the settlement agreement concluded back in 2020 for a total of $16.5 million. Why lawsuits go on even after the death of the artist is in the Izvestia article.

What was the singer accused of

The first allegations against Michael Jackson appeared back in the early 1990s. Then there were several high-profile cases of pedophilia related to his relationships with minors. The first investigation began in 1993, when the family of 13-year-old Jordan Chandler said that the singer allegedly engaged in indecent acts with the boy. The case ended in an out-of-court settlement, under which Jackson paid the family about $20 million. He did not admit his guilt, but also did not bring the case to court.

The second major scandal occurred in 2003, when charges were brought against the artist again, this time on behalf of teenager Gavin Arviso, who claimed that the singer had abused him at the Neverland Ranch. After a large-scale investigation and a months-long trial in 2005, Jackson was fully acquitted on all counts, as the jury found no convincing evidence of guilt.

• After the death of the singer in 2009, the subject was again discussed, particularly after the release of the documentary "Leaving Neverland" (2019), where two men, Wade Robson and James Safcsak, said that in the childhood victims of abuse by Jackson. These confessions have caused a new wave of public criticism, although the singer's relatives and representatives insist that the stories were made up for profit.

• Also, the five children of Dominic Casio, whom Michael Jackson met in the mid-1980s, after the release of "Leaving Neverland" accused the singer of exerting psychological influence and sexualized acts on them for 25 years — from the moment they met in 1984 until his death. The two older brothers regularly visited the Neverland Ranch and even accompanied the musician on a world tour, spending the night in the same room with him. The singer's closest connection was with his eldest son, Frank Casio, who later became his manager and wrote a book about his friendship with Jackson.

• Relatives claim that they realized what was happening only years later, after the death of the artist. In 2020, Michael Jackson's heirs agreed to pay the Casio family $16.5 million under the terms of a pre-trial agreement. Since the beginning of this year, they have received the last tranche of $2.5 million.

Why does "Neverland" figure in almost all cases

• Neverland Ranch, or Neverland Ranch, was Michael Jackson's private estate located in California, which the singer acquired in the late 1980s and turned into a kind of fabulous children's park. On an area of more than 1,000 hectares, there were attractions, a zoo, a cinema, a railway and residential buildings, where the singer often hosted guests, including children and their families.

• It was this place that later became the centerpiece of many investigations and accusations, as it was there that some former guests claimed episodes of sexualized violence took place. Several children and teenagers who visited Neverland later stated that the singer gained trust with gifts, attention and affection in order to get closer to them. After Jackson's death, Neverland remained abandoned for a long time and changed several owners.

Was Michael Jackson a pedophile

• All charges against the singer have been tried in the courts, and none of them resulted in a guilty plea. Therefore, today the question of the veracity of all these stories remains a matter of debate.

• The testimony of Michael Jackson's accusers was often accompanied by details that matched the stories of other complainants. However, some of the accusers had previously retracted their words and changed their testimony or demanded too much monetary compensation, which raised doubts about their motives.

• Lawyers and representatives of the Jackson family have repeatedly stated that the artist was a victim of manipulation and attempts to profit. However, the fact of the existence of a close, perhaps too trusting relationship between him and minors is beyond doubt.

• The singer has set many records — he has won more than 350 awards, including 15 Grammy Awards, received the title of "Artist of the Millennium" and was twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In addition to music, he was actively involved in charity, supporting dozens of foundations aimed at helping children and fighting diseases.