MICHAEL JACKSON’s three children have been caught up in a bitter battle between estate executors and the singer’s mother KATHERINE over the kids’ involvement in a charity.
The Thriller hitmaker established the Heal the World Foundation in 1992, helping to raise funds for a variety of causes, including drug and alcohol abuse education and disadvantaged children.
The organisation shut down in 2002, but a separate charity, also named Heal the World Foundation, was set up in 2008. The new company had no link to Jackson and his estate executors have since launched legal proceedings against founder Melissa Johnson, accusing her of infringement and unfair competition.
They claim Johnson’s firm is causing the singer’s fans to mistakenly believe it is the same Heal the World Foundation the superstar was involved in and are demanding she change the name of her charity.
But Katherine Jackson has only added to the confusion by working with Johnson’s firm and allowing her three grandkids, Prince Michael, Paris and Blanket, to get involved.
The children paid a visit to the L.A. Family Housing Sydney M. Irmas Transitional Living Centre in north Hollywood on Wednesday (23Feb11) on behalf of the Foundation, and presented a cheque for $10,000 (£6,670) to the centre, which helps families’ and individuals’ transition from homelessness.
Prince Michael, 14, even serves on the Foundation’s board and Katherine is determined to continue collaborating with Johnson’s charity.
She tells U.S. breakfast programme Good Morning America, “It makes me feel very good, one reason why is because it’s what Michael wanted.”
But Katherine’s actions have infuriated Michael’s estate executors and they have hit out at her decision to get the singer’s children involved.
In a statement issued to GMA on Friday (25Feb11), they say: “The current Heal the World Foundation has no relation to Michael Jackson’s charity that touched so many lives before becoming inactive several years before Michael’s death… The estate does not believe Michael’s children should be used to exploit a foundation that a federal judge found was not associated with Michael Jackson.”
Source: contactmusic.com
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Well said: just Heal the World!
it doesn’t matter. just do it!
The estate is Katherine and the children!!! The lawyers are trying to control the estate!!!
Exactly! Can’t people just see the big picture. Michael kids are carrying on his legacy of charity and the homeless shelter has benefitted from a wonderful contribution that is probably much needed. And the Heal the World foundation has stated on its website that its not affliated with the Estate of Michael Jackson, long before this interview aired. And right who cares!! These kids are the best representatives for Michael right now. Everthing else has been a mess.