Michael Jackson’s three kids made a rare appearance together on the red carpet in London for the press night of MJ: The Musical.
Arriving at the Prince Edward Theatre on Wednesday, Prince, 27, and Blanket, 22, donned black suits, while Paris, 25, wowed in a rust-colored dress with crossed chest straps.
The highly anticipated musical, which received 10 Tony Award nominations, delves into the life of the legendary Michael Jackson.
Born via surrogate, Blanket, whose real name is Bigi, adds to the curious legacy of the late pop icon, as the identity of his biological mother remains undisclosed.
Prince, Paris, and Blanket Jackson. Credit: John Phillips/Getty
Paris and Prince, on the other hand, are the offspring of Michael’s marriage to Debbie Rowe from 1996 to 2000.
This public outing marks a significant moment as it unfolds amid Blanket’s legal dispute with his grandmother, Katherine Jackson, concerning the distribution of funds from the late pop star’s estate.
Previously aligned with his grandmother in legal battles against the executors of his father’s estate, Blanket shifted his stance after a court ruling favored the executors’ use of Michael’s estate money for an undisclosed business deal, reportedly the $600 million catalog deal with Sony, per the Daily Mail.
Following Katherine’s decision to appeal the court ruling, Blanket withdrew his support, expressing skepticism about the likelihood of success.
In response to Blanket’s move, Katherine, 93, filed a response on March 20, contending that the estate executors possess sufficient funds to cover her $500,000 worth of legal fees, arguing that the estate’s assets are being withheld to maintain control.
The siblings being spotted in public is rare. Dave Benett/Getty
Documents suggest that the estate could cover Katherine’s legal expenses without jeopardizing the estate’s financial stability, with “hundreds of millions of dollars” remaining available to beneficiaries.
Contrary to Katherine’s claim, Michael’s estate stated in a court filing on March 21 that she had already received over $55 million since the singer’s passing in 2009, including a monthly allowance of $160,000, totaling over $33 million in cash.
Michael died at the age of 50 in 2009 from a cardiac arrest he suffered after having Propofol administered as a sleep aid.
There is a legal dispute over Michael’s estate. Credit: Kevork Djansezian-Pool/Getty
MJ: The Musical, featuring Myles Frost portraying the iconic singer, has resonated strongly with theatergoers, amassing an impressive $170.9 million at the box office by January 2024.
However, the production has faced criticism for presenting a “sanitized” depiction of Michael Jackson’s tumultuous early ’90s period, marked by allegations of child abuse – a narrative the musical sidesteps.