Joe Jackson is accused of running a campaign of terror against a former associate who is trying to prove Michael Jackson had an illegitimate son.
TMZ has obtained a request for a restraining order filed last week against Joe and his son Randy Jackson in San Francisco County Superior Court.
In the docs, a man named Ronnie Newt claims he was threatened by Joe's henchmen after he approached Joe with information that he believed proved Michael is the father of a 12-year-old boy named Prince Michael Malachi Jet Jackson. In the past, Newt told TMZ that Joe denied the kid was Michael's.
According to the documents, Newt claims "I was told to stay out of the M.J. love child story. That some one could get kill [sic] for that kind of money."
Newt also warns that if he turns up dead in the near future, authorities should suspect foul play. He's demanding the Jackson's and their associates stay 50 yards away from him at all times. UPDATE: TMZ spoke with Joe, who tells us the death threat allegations are completely bogus and added, "I haven't even seen this guy since the '80s."
Michael Jackson's 2002 will has a mistake in it, TMZ has learned -- but it looks like a case of no harm, no foul.
As we first reported, according to the will -- dated July 7, 2002 -- it was signed in Los Angeles. But Randy Jackson told TMZ Michael was in New York City on that date.
Randy thinks the signature on Michael's will is a forgery. But Howard Weitzman, the lawyer for the estate, tells TMZ the signature is valid and the witnesses saw Jackson put pen to paper.
We've now confirmed Jackson definitely signed the will in New York City on 7-7-02. So the reference to Los Angeles is clearly a mistake.
Our sources say the person who wrote "Los Angeles" is one of the witnesses to the will and simply forgot where he was.
This mistake will not invalidate the will. Ironically, if the will were declared invalid, the prior 1997 will would be probated. Just like the 2002 will, the 1997 will creates a trust. We've learned the '97 trust -- just like the 2002 trust -- leaves the same percentage to the same people: Katherine Jackson gets 40% for her lifetime, MJ's kids get 40% and the remaining 20% goes to charity.
By the way ... guess who one of the executors is in the '97 will? John Branca.
Everyone expected the Jacksons to wage internal war over who gets what part of Michael's estate ... but Randy Jackson claims they already have enough money. Randy was reacting to our story yesterday -- revealing that Katherine Jackson's 40% cut of Michael's estate will go directly to MJ's three kids when she dies. That means the kiddies will end up with 80% of the estate -- the remaining 20% goes to charity. So Michael's bros and sisters will inherit nada.
Here's Randy's take:
"The family is fine with it. Who cares about the money? We have enough money. If I cared about the money, I'd be doing a reality show and doing interviews."
For what seems like the 4 billionth time, another former Michael Jackson associate claims the pop star stiffed him out of $180,400 back before MJ kicked the bucket.
This time, the claim comes from a former business manager who says Michael's brother Randy Jackson hired him to fix MJ's tax problems back in 2004.
According to the creditor's claim, filed by entertainment attorney Perry C. Wander today in L.A. County Superior Court, Don Stabler claims he spent 632 hours "dealing with others on [MJ's] behalf" -- a service for which he charged $325 per hour.
We're assuming the Jackson estate will throw this in the to-do list ... which has got to be one hell of a stack by now.
Paula Abdul's vacant seat at the judges table on "American Idol" has officially been filled ... by Ellen DeGeneres.
Ellen announced the big news during a taping of her talk show today, saying "I have a big announcement to make. No one knows this ... I am going to be the new judge on 'American Idol.'"
Randy Jackson is furious footage of Michael's funeral at Forest Lawn is being broadcast all over the world, saying it was a private event and not meant for the public to see.
Jackson just released a scathing statement condemning those who violated the no-fly zone over Forest Lawn last night -- asking all media organizations to refrain from airing any more footage of the event.
Here's Randy's full statement:
"As a family, we are all aware of how Michael's life, and his death, touched so many around the world. It is why we held a public memorial in my brother's honor.
And it is the reason we chose to release a small amount of footage leading up to yesterday's ceremony at Forest Lawn.
I was dismayed last night and again today at the coverage I saw on television of our ceremony for Michael. We had asked the media to respect the privacy and the sanctity of this event; to give us one moment of privacy to mourn as a family out of the public spotlight.
Unfortunately, despite a no-fly zone around Forest Lawn, many media organizations decided to ignore our wishes. They employed helicopters that not only surreptitiously recorded our private family ceremony, but also severely disrupted it.
I therefore ask today that media organizations airing helicopter footage of the ceremony we held for my brother immediately pull that footage from their air and refrain from airing it in the future."
Paul Abdul is hurt, angry and threatening to quit "American Idol" ... like "60 Minutes" wants to snatch her up.
It's absurd, but Abdul's manager told the L.A. Times, "Very sadly, it does not appear that she's going to be back on 'Idol," adding "Idol" producers have been "rude and disrespectful" by not offering her a new deal.
Ok, let's now get real. Our "A.I." spies say Abdul is raking in about 2 1/2 million bucks a year -- a nice check, but compared to the $15 mil a year that Ryan Seacrest just sealed ...
In Hollywood, stars have to talk the walk in order to rob the bank. Paula's manager says since "Idol" hasn't offered her a new deal she's now considering starting a competitive show. Here's the deal ... Paula tried starting her own series a few years back with Paramount .... NIGHTMARE! The idea crashed and burned.
So it's yet another ploy for more moolah, and more power to her. Whatever the deal it's a long way from Paula's first season paycheck -- our "A.I." spies say she was pulling in $5,000 a week.
Believe it or not, the best part of "American Idol" actually isn't having 12-year-old girls screaming your name, because according to Danny Gokey, it's all about the "MONEY, MONEY, MONEY, MONEY. MONNNNNNEY!"
Sick of hearing Randy Jackson begin and end every sentence with the word "dawg" on "American Idol"? You can now rejoice--our camera guy might have talked him into changing it.
In the shocking finale last night, Kris Allen beat out Adam Glambert for "American Idol" -- and according to Randy Jackson, "America gets it right every time, dawg."
Just ask Taylor Hicks, Fantasia Barrino and Ruben Studdard ... who were all eventually dropped from their labels.
Maybe it's just us ... but last night on "American Idol" it seemed Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson could not hide their disdain for newbie Kara DioGuardi. Watch closely as Kris Allen finishes his performance and Randy tries to weigh in, only to be jock blocked by the new chick in town. The looks between Simon and Randy are priceless.
Michael Jackson's 2002 will has a mistake in it, TMZ has learned -- but it looks like a case of no harm, no foul.
Everyone expected the Jacksons to wage internal war over who gets what part of Michael's estate ... but Randy Jackson claims they already have enough money.
For what seems like the 4 billionth time, another former Michael Jackson associate claims the pop star stiffed him out of $180,400 back before MJ kicked the bucket.
Randy Jackson is furious footage of Michael's funeral at Forest Lawn is being broadcast all over the world, saying it was a private event and not meant for the public to see.
Paul Abdul is hurt, angry and threatening to quit "American Idol" ... like "60 Minutes" wants to snatch her up.
Jackson family members -- including La Toya and Randy -- have been spotted entering Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles.
