Jackson Family

One minute she's a football player ... the next, Paris Jackson is pom-pomming her face off on her prep school's cheerleading squad ... another sign MJ's daughter is as free a spirit as he was.

Paris -- sporting a short new 'do -- hit the hardwood and rooted on the Buckley School basketball team in L.A. yesterday ... while hamming it up for the cameras.

It's just the latest predictably unpredictable move for the 14-year-old ... who was just playing for the school's flag football team in 2011 -- she's kinda like "Icebox" from "Little Giants" ... only WAYY more bad ass.

Besides the sports, Jackson is also an aspiring actress ... political activist ... model ... and Bieber-enthusiast.

Funny, Michael spent so much time trying to keep his children out of the spotlight ... but now, it seems she's reveling in it.

Janet Jackson is putting those pesky engagement rumors to bed ... by announcing she secretly got married to her mega-millionaire boyfriend LAST YEAR.

Janet and new hubby Wissam Al Mana -- a Qatari businessman -- released a joint statement today, claiming, "The rumours regarding an extravagant wedding are simply not true. Last year we were married in a quiet, private, and beautiful ceremony."

As for wedding gifts, the two decided NOT to lavish each other with expensive presents ... “Our wedding gifts to one another were contributions to our respective favourite children’s charities."

Call him Jermaine Jacksun ... with a "U" ... because as of this afternoon, that's legally his name.

We've learned ... an L.A. County Superior Court judge approved the singer's petition for the name change, which the 58-year-old filed back in November.

TMZ broke the story ... the man formerly known as "Jermaine Jackson" had said he wanted to make the change for "artistic reasons" ... whatever that means.

TJ Jackson cannot continue to serve as a surrogate parent to Michael Jackson's 3 kids without getting some compensation, so the Executors of MJ's Estate are asking the judge to give TJ a reasonable amount of money to keep the ship afloat.

The Executors filed legal docs -- obtained by TMZ -- in which they say TJ has been extremely devoted to Paris, Prince and Blanket since MJ's death. TJ -- who is now a co-guardian along with Katherine Jackson -- spends 40 hours a week caring for the 3 kids.

The Executors say it's been a hardship for TJ -- who is married with 3 kids of his own. Although he's been a co-guardian since July, he hasn't received a single penny for his services.

The Executors are asking the judge to allow them to pay TJ $9,000 a month, retroactive to July. They add, the way it's going now, TJ may not be able to continue, so compensation is essential.

Here's the latest incarnation of Lil' Kim in West Hollywood this weekend (left) -- and La Toya Jackson last year (right).

Pop stars are always reinventing their look.

Katherine Jackson is reaching out to the man who killed her son because she needs him badly for something ... TMZ has learned.

Katherine is in the throes of a wrongful death lawsuit against AEG, claiming the company negligently hired Dr. Conrad Murray and failed to properly supervise him.

Here's the problem. She needs Murray on the record, explaining how the arrangement went down, so she's subpoenaed the jailed Doc. Katherine wants Murray to acknowledge AEG masterminded the plan to bring him on board.

It's ironic, to say the least, but Katherine is dealing with some bad options. She can go after Murray, but he doesn't have a pot to piss in. Or, she can try to bring him into the fold in order to go after the deep pockets -- AEG.

Now the real problem -- Murray's not cooperating. His lawyers, Valerie Wass and J. Michael Flanagan, are fighting the subpoena, trying to get it tossed on technical grounds.

Dr. Arnie Klein -- Michael Jackson's famed dermatologist -- has just taken credit for fathering MJ's son Prince Jackson ... sort of.

Klein posted the cryptic picture on his Facebook profile yesterday, showing Prince side-by-side with an old photo of Klein when he was younger -- presumably to show the resemblance.

Under the photo, Klein wrote the caption, "hmmmmm" -- a wink at people who've been saying for years that Klein provided the sperm that fathered Prince and Paris.

You'll recall, Michael Jackson's ex-wife Debbie Rowe gave birth to Prince in 1997, and daughter Paris the year after. MJ's third child Blanket was born to an anonymous surrogate in 2002.

Arnie has previously denied being the dad, telling Diane Sawyer, "To the best of my knowledge, I am not the father of these children."

So we gotta ask ...

$55,000 ... that's how much it took for the chick from Michael Jackson's "Thriller" music video to call a truce in her war with the MJ estate ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ broke the story ... Ola Ray settled her lawsuit with the estate earlier this year, and now we know what for ... $55,000 to Ola ... and $20,000 to her lawyer.

Ola originally filed the suit against MJ and his production company in May 2009 -- a month before Jackson passed away -- claiming breach of contract. Ola said she was still owed a massive chunk of the "Thriller" profits ... nearly 30 years after it was released.

The director of the music video John Landis -- who filed a similar lawsuit against the estate -- has also settled ... but he wanted in excess of $2 million, so we're guessing he got a little more than Ola.

No one in Michael Jackson's family will be prosecuted over the fight last July at Katherine's home ... TMZ has learned.

As you recall, Paris and Prince got into it with Janet ... the video shows Janet confronting Paris and then apparently trying to get at her cell phone.

Paris then charged past Janet, who is then restrained by Randy. There was subsequently a physical confrontation ... we're told between Randy and Jermaine on one side, and Trent on the other.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the case is now closed because no one from the Jackson family would speak to cops. In fact, we're told none of them even returned various calls from detectives.

Joe Jackson has suffered a stroke -- and is currently being treated at a hospital.

A source close to the family tells TMZ, Michael Jackson's father suffered a "mini-stroke" last night. He was transported to a hospital, where he's still being treated.

Details surrounding the medical emergency are unclear, as well as how serious the actual stroke was.

Last time we saw Joe, he was in good spirits in Las Vegas, where he proudly showed off the gun he carries around in his jacket.

Story developing ...

Michael Jackson's personal assistant has filed a class action lawsuit against AEG, claiming he and the rest of the employees connected with the "This Is It" tour lost lots of money because the company negligently hired and supervised Dr. Conrad Murray.

Michael Amir Williams claims in his lawsuit, obtained by TMZ ... AEG agreed to pay MJ's staff up to $7.5 million for their services connected with the tour ... a tour that didn't take place because Dr. Conrad Murray pumped the singer with a fatal dose of Propofol.

Williams alleges AEG screwed up by failing to act responsibly by hiring Murray and then failing to properly manage or supervise him.

Jermaine Jackson has filed a request to legally CHANGE his last name ... trading out "Jackson" for "Jacksun" ... TMZ has learned.

Jermaine filed a petition for a change of name with L.A. County Superior Court yesterday asking for the change in nomenclature.

In the docs, Jermaine says he wants to make the change for "artistic reasons" ... but he does not give any further details about the move.

The request has NOT yet been approved by a judge -- but a hearing has been scheduled.

Barring any crazy legal situations, Jermaine will be required to have his name change announced publicly several times in the next couple of months before it can be made official. A public announcement consists of having the name printed in a local publication ... just like Ron Artest had to do when he changed his name to Metta World Peace.

They're a little old (if ya know what we're sayin') ... but a bunch of ripped, nearly naked men showed up at Michael Jackson's death house recently for a very steamy not-gay-at-all photo shoot.

TMZ obtained the pics ... taken roughly 3 weeks ago at Michael's former residence on Carolwood Dr. in the Holmby Hills area.

Sources connected to the shoot tell us ... the guys are models for the Jo's underwear line ... which is said to enhance one's bum area. Not that we were looking, but some of the man panties are "assless."

We're told the models all had a blast in the home ... especially when they realized its historical significance.

As we previously reported, the owner of the mansion has struck a deal to sell the house ... and the new buyer moved in last week ... even though escrow has not closed yet.

The house where Michael Jackson died is in escrow and about to close ... TMZ has learned ... and the buyer was so anxious, he's moving in weeks before escrow is scheduled to close.

The buyer is Steven Mayer, a super-rich investment banker.

Our sources say the purchase price was somewhere between $17 and $20 mil -- it was listed for nearly $24 mil.

And this is interesting ... for some reason the seller is letting Mayer move in before escrow closes -- something real estate honchos think is high risk.

Mauricio Umansky at The Agency represented Mayer and the seller of the home. We reached out to him, but haven't heard back.

Joe Jackson's gun is 100% legit -- TMZ has learned, Michael Jackson's dad is fully-licensed to carry a concealed weapon in the State of Nevada ... this according to a rep for the Las Vegas Metro Police.

The rep tells TMZ, Joe was issued a CCW permit in 2010 by the LVMPD -- allowing him to carry a concealed handgun on his person anywhere in Nevada. The permit expires in 2015.

As we reported, Joe showed off the concealed weapon at a recent event in Vegas, and claimed he doesn't leave home without it.

FYI -- Nevada's what they call an "open carry" state -- meaning anyone (over 21) can literally walk down the street with a handgun strapped to his or her body, as long as it's exposed.

With Joe's permit, he's allowed to keep it inside his jacket.

Joe Jackson FLASHED A HANDGUN to a room full of people at a recent event in Vegas ... and told the crowd it's just like an American Express card ... he doesn't leave home without it.

The bizarre moment all went down while Joe was at the Tuscany Hotel and Casino in Vegas this weekend to be honored at the Black Music Awards (apparently that's a thing).

Joe was introduced by his friend -- Majestik -- who told the crowd a story about Joe confronting Michael Jackson's bodyguards two weeks before MJ's death.

During the alleged confrontation, Majestik says Joe flashed his gun at the guards and said -- "If I hear you all givin' my son drugs or doing anything illegal with my son ... I'ma kill all of you."

When Majestik turned the mic over to Joe -- JJ corroborated the story ... saying, "It's very true. Every word he said."

Then Joe told the crowd ... "I carry a piece everywhere I go ... I'm gonna show it to you."

Joe proceeded to open up his suit jacket, revealing a handgun holstered by his hip. Joe explained, "I've been threatened a lot of times and so I need to be safe."