14 DAY TRIAL // Michael Jackson’s only daughter, the 11-year-old Paris, is not his, close friend of the late singer Mark Lester tells News of the World. The former actor and longtime Jackson friend makes the shocking revelation that he might be the father of the girl, judging by the fact that she looks so much like his own daughter and that he actually donated a sample to Michael for the purpose of artificial insemination, Lester claims.
Both started a career in showbiz at a very young age and both were extremely successful in them. It’s no wonder then that they became friends, with Jackson agreeing to be the Godparent of Lester’s four children, a favor he would return later on. At one point, Michael reportedly confessed to Lester that he was afraid of contact with women but he wanted children so badly that he did not know what to do. Lester, in return, offered to lend him a hand, just like any other friend would have done.
“It’s been a secret for so long.” Lester tells News of the World of the deal that he and Michael agreed to in 1996. “It was a gift to him, no money was paid, it was something I was honored to do. He wanted children so badly. Michael found it very difficult to have relationships with women. He was very conscious of his own body. Then in one of our regular phone conversations he said he realized having kids was a natural thing but that he just couldn’t do it. I mentioned the fact there are alternative ways of going about it.” the former actor says of how Michael got the idea for artificial insemination.
Clearly, Lester argues, Michael never really confirmed to him that Paris was actually his daughter, which is why he continued with his life as if nothing had happened. However, upon seeing Paris at the public memorial service at Los Angeles’ Staples Center, and noticing the striking resemblance between her and his own 15-year-old daughter, Lester can no longer keep quiet. Especially now that Katherine Jackson, Michael’s mother, got full custody of all three children and she’s not allowing Lester to visit or talk to them on the phone, Michael’s close friend adds.
“With Michael’s mother Katherine now their legal guardian it’s like the kids are being isolated. I’m the Godparent to them and Michael was Godparent to all my four kids. Our two families spent a lot of time together, and had a lot fun together. Now I’m not able to have any communication with the children. My repeated phone calls aren’t returned and emails go unanswered. This isn’t what Michael would have wanted. I feel I have to come forward, as my only way of saying, ‘Please don’t shut me out!’” Mark Lester explains.
Lester also insists he doesn’t want any of Michael’s money or fame for that matter. To prove he’s right (or wrong), he’s willing to undergo a paternity test, just to put his heart at ease about Paris. In the meantime, the Jackson clan is said to be fuming over the claims, saying that Lester’s only doing it to get his “five seconds of fame.” For more on this, keep an eye on this space.