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The Jackson 8's Family Feud
by Diane Dimond
Investigative journalist and syndicated columnist Diane Dimond has covered the Michael Jackson story since 1993 when she first broke the news that the King of Pop was under investigation for child molestation. She is author of the book, Be Careful Who You Love—Inside the Michael Jackson Case. She lives in New York with her husband, broadcast journalist Michael Schoen.
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Janet is worth $4 million, while La Toya merits just $500,000, according to a concert proposal obtained by Diane Dimond. How a new "Jackson 8" tour has exposed a contentious sibling rivalry.
You can never predict how a family will grieve the death of a loved one. But three people familiar with the inner workings of the Jackson family reveal that the Encino, California, compound for the parents and siblings of the late Michael Jackson, Hayvenhurst, has recently been filled with constant spats over money and fame.
The guaranteed collective payday for the clan: more than $12 million. This new grouping—call it the Jackson 8—will have Janet fronting in her big brother’s place.
The latest point of contention, these associates say, is a 10-city U.S. “Jackson Family Reunion Tour” involving all of Michael’s siblings. The Daily Beast has obtained a proposal from New Jersey-based AllGood Entertainment, a concert promoter that claimed it had a similar concert plan in place in June when it sued Michael for allegedly breaching that agreement, and my sources confirm that the Jackson family is seriously considering this new offer. The guaranteed collective payday for the clan: more than $12 million, including a $1 million advance upon acceptance. And it indicates that this new grouping—call it the Jackson 8—will have Janet fronting in her big brother’s place.
The biggest holdup with a concert tour, or other deals, are sibling rivalries, as each brother and sister weighs individual deals, while family matriarch Katherine Jackson preaches for a long-term family-size agreement which will provide security for everyone. The details of the proposed pay split among the family members illuminates both the opportunities for the surviving Jacksons following their famous brother’s death and their competing—and not equal—prospects.
The tour pay scale in the proposal is specifically broken out as follows:
Janet Jackson — $4 million
Jermaine Jackson — $1.5 million
Jackie Jackson — $1.5 million
Randy Jackson — $1.5 million
Marlon Jackson — $1.5 million
Tito Jackson — $1.5 million
La Toya Jackson — $500,000
Rebbie Jackson — $250,000
These numbers, for the 10-date U.S. tour, could easily triple. An August 11, 2009, letter written by AllGood CEO Patrick Allocco to Jermaine, also obtained by The Daily Beast, mentions the additional “option for 10 cities in Europe plus we have additional offers for Australia, Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Seoul.”
But despite the large potential numbers, the siblings’ individual agendas have caused troubles inside Hayvenhurst, say the family associates. For Janet, the issue is pressure. She is unenthusiastic about being the headliner on this proposed tour, the sources say, remembering the constant stress the family put on Michael to perform with them for the sake of their bank accounts. For the oldest sister, Rebbie, who these sources tell me will shoulder the bulk of the responsibility raising Michael’s children Prince, Paris, and Blanket, the issue is respect. She is displeased that her value is calculated at a mere $25,000 for each of the 10 shows. She’s also annoyed that the promoter misspelled her name—AllGood lists it as “Rebe”—throughout the contract.
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Investigative journalist and syndicated columnist Diane Dimond has covered the Michael Jackson story since 1993 when she first broke the news that the King of Pop was under investigation for child molestation. She is author of the book, Be Careful Who You Love—Inside the Michael Jackson Case. She lives in New York with her husband, broadcast journalist Michael Schoen.
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Investigative journalist and syndicated columnist Diane Dimond has covered the Michael Jackson story since 1993 when she first broke the news that the King of Pop was under investigation for child molestation. She is author of the book, Be Careful Who You Love—Inside the Michael Jackson Case. She lives in New York with her husband, broadcast journalist Michael Schoen.
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Investigative journalist and syndicated columnist Diane Dimond has covered the Michael Jackson story since 1993 when she first broke the news that the King of Pop was under investigation for child molestation. She is author of the book, Be Careful Who You Love—Inside the Michael Jackson Case. She lives in New York with her husband, broadcast journalist Michael Schoen.
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Chicago48
Well Michael certainly was the most creative one in the family. However, I think Diane gives Janet too much credit. Janet hasn't had a hit record for quite a while and her last big tour was a bust that was cut short.
I just don't see that Jackson8 being a draw in the U.S., but overseas anything Jackson is worshipped.
anghiari
How old are you Chicago 48? Janet hasn't had a hit in a while, but she was a brilliant entertainer and her videos were gems, There are loads of us with disposable cash who would go to see Janet. By the way Britney Spears has not danced a routine in her career... that wasn't a steal from something Janet did. I was never a Madonna fan...I think Janet was the most exciting female pop star when she was at the top of her game.
shag11
Joe screwed-up everyone, and his wife's religion prevented her from putting her foot down.
Chicago48
^ I agree.
janine67219
I'm sick of everyone harping on Michael getting a belt. EVERYONE I in my neigborhood in that time period got belted. My Uncle has been a Jehovah Witness for 30 years and his kids got the belt. I realize most people uner 40 thinks discipline consist of time outs but believed me parents using belts, switches, and extenstion cords to whip their kids butts in the 70's was not uncommmon. Other do anything to make a dollar LeToya when did you hear any of the other siblings complain about being beat? Also, Katherine Jackson has said publicaly that belt whippings are appropriate until age 15. Michael Jackson was a grown man who made terrible decisions that had nothing to do with his Dad.
ititiiti
ol' poppa joe took his family of boyz out of the 'hood and raised two international superstars. what did your daddy do for you?
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dakotahesq
Reticent means reluctant. Also, I think you're missing the larger point of this article - the disturbing inner-workings of a Hollywood family. A comment on that would be far more worthwhile than knitpicking the author's grammar.
psmotel
Reticent generally signifies reluctance to speak. Yes, dictionaries will show reluctant as a possible definition but it is not the most commonly understood definition. It is more awkward than just saying "reluctant" if that's what you mean.
psmotel
Reticent generally signifies reluctance to speak. Yes, dictionaries will show reluctant as a possible definition but it is not the most commonly understood definition. It is more awkward than just saying "reluctant" if that's what you mean.
canyon07
No, "reticent" does NOT mean "reluctant." The two words are frequently confused, but they aren't synonymous. Reticent means "habitually silent or uncommunicative; disinclined to speak readily; reserved; taciturn" (yes, it's in the dictionary). Thank you, pricklypear, for pointing out Diane Dimond's error -- after all, Ms. Dimond is a professional writer and she should know better.
anghiari
Reticent is NOT more awkward than using reluctant. It depends on how comfortable you are with language. I find reticient carries a nuance that reluctant does not. And while they mean similar things, reticent tells me the person probably had not expressed herself, but is giving us small clues about her feelings. Reluctant means a bolder statement of what she will or will not do. The use of the word reticent offers a specificity that the use of the word reluctant does not...for me at least!
WestVillager
I didn't even know there was a Rebbie, which I guess is part of the point. I've felt most of the Jackson family has enjoyed profiting off its best talent for years. It's not illegal but severely taints any authenticity of a "remembrance" tour.
The amount of media attention for those weeks surrounding Jackson's death gave us insight into what it must have been like for him every single day. Away from the public, these are the people he had to talk to. I'd be dangling baby's off balconys too.
Chicago48
All Jackson had to do was turn off his telephone or change his telephone number. He didn't have to take calls from his family. And I am very suspect of Jermaine, I guess he's the one who bears responsibility for trying to make Michael seem "normal" and "good." The books I've read about Michael paint a different picture.
And all those people who were at the memorial, most of them hadn't seen him in years. Esp. Brooke Shields, what? 18 years?
megami
Yes, he did turn off his phone to his family occasionally. I think that was actually part of the problem. The people closest to him weren't family, just parasites.
sophia5
Rebbie ? Who knew ?
I didn't realize LaToya even had any talent.
For all these people to be so messed up,
there's got to be "source" to their dysfunction.
Anyone think all that stuff about Papa Joe was made up ?
megami
LaToya had talent but, no drive. Janet and Michael worked very hard and the rest weren't willing to work that hard. I actually think Jermaine had the better voice (just listen to 'Do What You Do' a hit he had in the 80s) but, again, to rise to the status of Janet and Michael, it takes a lot of work.
anghiari
I find these suggestions about the family silly. Did you ever see the original group in person? Clearly Michael was the star, but each member of fhe group held their own. There were no talentless brothers. Latoya is the crazy one who has little talent and Rebbie was the smart one who stayed away from show business. I don't understand the attitude of some of the posters. Find any family who worked together for years in show business and you will find the exact same sibling rivalries. It isn't extraordinary, but normal. But make no mistake all of those kids except those two sisters were talented. It was just that Michael was so much more talented that it took the wind out of the sails of any other brother who might have considered going solo. Jermaine tried it, but he would always be compared to Michael.
megami
Yes, and Rebbie had a hit record in the 80s called "Centipede." LaToya had a hit record in the 80s called "Heart Don't Lie." They were both very good records but, they just didn't have the drive that Janet and Michael had.
nkadzi
"Just hours after Michael died, his father Joe Jackson was on the red carpet at the BET Awards in Los Angeles." Demon Diamond, please get your facts right, MJ died on a thursday 7/25 and the BET awards were on sunday 7/28, so it cannot be "just hours after." seriously, if you can make money as you are continuing making money from MJ, why not his siblings, what gives you the right to write about him and make money and not his relatives. get off your high freaking high horse!!
revcat
Thank you nkadzi, Diane Dimond is a parasite, and she is calling and in so many words is calling (most of) the Jackson family parasites. Guess this falls into the category of "takes one to know one" - Diane has probably never recovered from the fact the fact that Michael was acquitted (despite her best efforts) and is still trying to exact a pound of flesh from any Jackson carrying his DNA. Maybe its a good thing his kids are probably not his biological DNA as maybe she will keep her mitts off of them.
blameitonkarma
AMEN, Revcat. Diane Dimond's continued denigration of Michael, long after his acquittal and now beyond his death, is a clear illustration of the powerful hold her ego has over any professional ethics she might have at one time possessed. At this point in her quest for his blood she has become a journalistic caricature of precisely what she believes herself to be: a just and unbiased purveyor of facts. God love her, she sees herself a a "servant of the people" as it were, revealing light to those unfortunate souls who would otherwise dwell in the darkness of ignorance.
That she is the very antithesis of all she desires to be eludes her completely, as does the fact that those she calls "friend" see what she cannot.
She has a name. She has a reputation, and though dubious in distinction it is nonetheless a name that allows her to pay the bills from time to time. Like when Michael Jackson is on trial for charges he would ultimately be acquitted of. Or when Michael Jackson shields his children's faces from the paparazzi. Or when Michael Jackson sneezes. Or when Michael Jackson dies.
Diane Dimond owes her entire career to Michael Jackson. And that's the truth.
blameitonkarma.com
Chicago48
Actually "hours" can be 3 days....depending on your interpretation.
thatharlemkat
Then say 70 plus hours and not a few hours. Whole nother meaning, huh??
thankulord13
Sorry when some one uses that term hours, they are talking within a 24 hour frame work anything more would be counted as days. You must be Ms. (using the term loosely) Diamonds friend to be quick to defend this pathetic gossip monger. This woman is no better in her quest to profit off the death of Michael Jackson, I would rather the Jackson family get the money as oppose to some over the hill has been who needs to just hang it up.
thatharlemkat
Thank you so much for your comment, I often wonder how this vile Michael hating women continues to thrive character assassinating MJ and now his family. Go away Demon!
megami
My dad passed in 1994 but, he was retired before then and listened to her daily in 1993 about the MJ molestation charges. He thought the woman was evil and was only trying to make a name for herself off of MJ back then. I remember he hated that woman.
customusic
Michael died June 25, not July 25th...
nkadzi
Ms Demon Diamond writes, "Just hours after Michael died, his father Joe Jackson was on the red carpet at the BET Awards in Los Angeles."
eh MJ died on 7/25/09 and the BET awards were on 7/28/09, please get your facts straight!!
robjh1
Diane Dimond is a washed up wannabe who has made a careert reporting unsubstaintiated stories about Michael Jackson. She has been on particulary every news channel and had little success. Now she is making MJ her career. This woman has zero credibility with a pocket book full of "unnamed" or "sources close to" sources. Give me a break. Diane get a real job!
Any one beliving what she writes should have their heads checked. The only journalist who can and has reported fair on MJ is Mike Taibi.
"and we are not saved..."
revcat
Thank you!
Dustee
WOW, thanks for the 411 on Diane.
I guess when you sling mud it's likely to splash back on her.
isabelle8787
How about it!! Just "hours" and I do mean actual "hours", Ms. Dimond was all over the tv claiming that the "press has known for years that MJ is not the biological father of those children" her proof - "they have blue eyes and blond hair" . Hello, unless Ms. Dimond has the actual DNA report or was there personally, she has no real proof at all - a real reporter wouldn't make such false statements and in particular about children who've just been orphaned - how mean. She even made the statement "The Jackson's have no biological ties to those children" - can you say "evil". She's a jerk from beginning to end and I hope these senseless stories are a real end to her career as a "yellow journalist".
anghiari
Also Diane doesn't know much about DNA...Michael could have kids who are blonde and blue eyed depending on the mother and his ancestral history Nobody knows Michael's ancestry, but many blacks in this country have whites in their ancestral family history. Heck everybody still keeps calling Obama black when in fact he is bi-racial.
jacqmeli
I do NOT belive the kids are MJ and nor are they related to that greedy mental mess-up clan. But that is that is the only crazy clan that they know . I have seen the kids between black males and white females (Obama) and most of them do not look all white. MJ did Not trust his own DNA. SO he borrow someone else or paid for it. SAD but this poor black family who could have had a great life went off on the deep end.
gracwalk
There is a video on Youtube, by katkoot28, Proof that All 3 of Michael Jackson's children are his very convincing evidence.
HostWisely
After MJ's death,there are a lot of questions and speculation had come up over his death.So why should make money first?rather than settling the speculations spreading?
http://hostwisely.com
revcat
I suppose the family wants to strike while the iron is hot... I really can't say that I blame them 100%... They were raised to be entertainers and that's all they know, but at the same time I can see why MJ distanced himself from nearly everyone except Katherine.
Chicago48
This is one of the most dysfunctional families I have ever read about. However, give them credit for still being alive, not dying of drugs or alchohol use, and not having police blotters.
BabySnooks
All you have to do is read the petitions filed with the probate court to realize that their grief was short-lived - the priority is to make as much money as they can as fast as they can. Before the magic wears off. Or the real scandals hit the fan. Most believe it is a matter of the latter.
I will never attend one of their concerts, never buy a piece of memorabilia, never buy a CD that puts one dime into their pockets. They obviously only cared about the money. Michael supported all of them. Which is why they never forced issues despite stating they attempted to. They weren't about to lose the cash cow in the family. Katherine Jackson is not so wonderful either and eyebrows were raised by the probate court reducing the amount she was requesting in temporary income. No doubt hidden away in the budget is support for the family itself. Which may explain why the probate court appointed an attorney to represent the interests of the children. The attorneys for Katherine, which is to say for the family may not be.
Dysfunctional does not really describe this family adequately. Evil is perhaps more fitting.
anghiari
Your criticism is silly. They were Michael's family and I find it hard to believe that they did not know he was at high risk due to his drug use. Which means somewhere in their brain, they had to know he was a clear possibility for an early death. So how people grieve is up to them not a public polling opportunity.The fact that this is a family opportunity to take advantage of all those people who demonstrated they plan to buy tickets to Michael's concert. Family members were not able to make a living when he was alive, because he did not want to work with them and the public did not want them without Michael. However the public may be willing to attend as a kind of memorial for Michael. Stop bellyaching if anybody should make money off of you, perhaps it should be your family. But not Joe...please!
laDivaG
What are they, part vulture?
I've never been a fan of the Jacksons at all, so I can't buy any less from them than I do. But if I had been a fan, this kind of callous, rapacious behavior would make me boycott any attempt of theirs to cash in on Michael's death.
.
JDK-JDK
Janet is only worth $4million? What in the hell did she do with her money!?
I know senior citizens, just retiring, worth that much... and these are not rich people, just shrewd investors.
Who has been managing her money... or has anyone been?
Chicago48
What she means is: Janet commands $400,000 per concert (X10 concerts) which is $4Million. We don't know how much she's worth, but next to Michael, she was the rich one.
sfsmurf
The $4 million refers to how much she would make on the tour, not to her total net worth.
anghiari
she's still very rich...that figure meant what she would paid to participate in this projected concert tour!
Ottoheinz
I understand the earnings differential, but where's the feud? Smoke-and-mirrors reporting at it's best, piss off Diane Diamond you leach!
blondy
Diane dimond is a washed up journalist who 'has been making money of michael over this years with baseless stories all from anonymous sources.you are no diffrent from the family you are trying to ridicule.you are all bloodsucking leeches and it is so incredible to see you pointing fingers at the family while the only thing you have achieved in life was making of money of michael from your books,money from tv networks etc.Nobody knew you before you started the endless persecution of mj.Am not a fan of the family but I detest hyprocrisy when I see one.lest I forget you have no credibility
isabelle8787
You are so right!!!
This comment has been removed by The Daily Beast's editors.
ApresSki
Journalism is where a person sits down and actually writes a story that has meaning with a beginning, a middle and an end.
Gossip or entertainment stories are not in that category. Diamond is not a journalist but a gossip reporter.
ApresSki
CORRECTION: It's Dimond and not DIAMOND!
At least I know when to make corrections . . .
shag11
On one hand, it's sad to see them capitalizing on Michael's name, on the other, he shut them out, so let them better themselves. They better hold-on to the money though, they may not get another shot at it.
anghiari
Michael didn' want to be part of a group...he had that right...the public didn't want the brothers without Michael...so that left them by and large without a career....and who should capitalize more than your family...you prefer strangers?
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