Bigi Jackson's legal team has made an unsuccessful attempt to broker peace between his sister Paris Jackson and the executors of their father’s estate, court documents have revealed.
Filings submitted on Monday show executors John Branca and John McClain believed a deal had been reached through efforts led by Bigi, formally known as Blanket's counsel.
They claimed Bigi’s legal team indicated they were speaking “for all three siblings”, including Paris and Prince Jackson, and that an agreement had been finalised in late March.
However, the executors allege Paris’s lawyers abruptly pulled out at the final stage.
Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009, after suffering a heart attack caused by a drug overdose | PAIn court filings, Mr Branca and Mr McClain said her legal team “inexplicably reversed their position entirely and reneged on the agreement that was acceptable to all other parties”.
They claim Paris then introduced a new set of demands described as “radically different” from what had previously been agreed.
At the centre of the dispute is the estate’s accounting process, with Paris pushing for greater oversight.
One proposal would require the executors to seek court approval before issuing bonus payments to law firms working on the estate.
A source close to Paris has strongly denied that any full agreement was ever reached
| GETTYThe executors say they remain open to the original terms but have rejected Paris’s revised proposal, insisting they “have never violated [any] court orders”.
A source close to Paris has strongly denied that any full agreement was ever reached.
“To be clear, there was never any deal on the table… that would have settled all issues,” the source said.
They also accused the executors of launching “a disgusting, outrageous smear campaign” against her.
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The dispute forms part of a wider legal battle over the handling of Michael Jackson’s estate since his death
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The source added: “These lawyers are using Jackson family resources to mock, belittle and attack her for demanding transparency."
The dispute forms part of a wider legal battle over the handling of Michael Jackson’s estate since his death in 2009.
Paris has alleged the executors paid themselves and estate lawyers excessively, claiming more than $148 million (£111.9 million) had been taken by 2021, an amount she says exceeds what the siblings have received.
The estate, now valued at around $2 billion (£1.5 billion) has still not been fully distributed nearly 17 years after the singer’s death.
The executors dispute the claims, saying Paris has received at least $65 million (£49 million) and arguing their management has generated billions for the estate.
Alongside the ongoing legal dispute, Paris has also faced public scrutiny over her personal and professional decisions.
Last year, she hit back at backlash over performing on the anniversary of her father’s death during a US tour, insisting she had no control over the scheduling.
The 27-year-old was supporting Incubus on their Morning View + The Hits tour alongside Manchester Orchestra.
Prince, Paris and Bigi Jackson
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She said as a support act, she does not choose “what date you perform or what city you’re in”, insisting the decision was out of her control.
The singer described the anniversary as “a very negative” day for her family, but said the opportunity to tour was not hers to turn down.
She ended her response with a blunt message to critics: “You don’t pick… F*** you.”