14 DAY TRIAL // Michael Jackson’s estranged father, Joe Jackson, is bent on showing the world why his late son pushed him away and would not remain on speaking terms with them – or so says Katherine Jackson’s attorney. In a recent interview with News of the World, Joe said his former wife was to blame for Michael’s death because things would have been better if she listened to him. In response, Katherine’s attorney tells TMZ the media should not pay attention to Joe anymore.
As it’s common knowledge by now, Michael’s will did not include his father Joe, but it did name his three children and their grandmother (Michael’s mother) as beneficiaries. This would explain why Joe is now set on having the media believe that the King of Pop could have still been alive if only Katherine had acted at the right moment, meaning when he (Joe) told her that something was wrong with their son, urging her to act. Trying to pin Michael’s death on Katherine is disgraceful and low even for Joe, Mrs. Jackson’s attorney tells TMZ.
“The world knows that Mrs. Jackson has always been a loving mother and grandmother, and that she and Michael had a very special relationship. The world also knows who Joe Jackson is and he seems bent on never letting us forget,” Adam Streisand says for TMZ. Howard Weitzman, attorney for the Michael Jackson estate, agrees, saying, “The inference by Joe Jackson that Mrs. Jackson was in any way responsible for Michael’s death is preposterous. Katherine Jackson was a supportive and loving mother throughout Michael’s life. His love and respect for her is reflected in his estate plan.”
Yet, Joe is singing an entirely different tune, as AceShowbiz can confirm. “Katherine was weeping uncontrollably and highly upset [when he died]. But I didn’t give her a hug because I was mad at her crying. I said, ‘If you had listened to me Michael would be living now!’ I kept thinking about the times I had stood in front of her saying something was wrong. I couldn’t bottle up my feelings. Katherine didn’t say a word – I had to get away from her. If she’d done what I asked Michael would be here today. I am incensed with her. She could have made a difference,” Joe told News of the World, as per the aforementioned e-zine.
After the responses from the two attorneys, Joe Jackson has been keeping unexpectedly quiet. Then again, this wouldn’t be the first time since his son’s tragic death of last year that he comes out with such a shocking statement and then goes into (relative) hiding, it is being said. Do keep an eye on this space for more, though.