TJ Jackson says he’s now the sole guardian of Michael Jackson’s children, having taken over caring duties from the late singer’s mother.
Michael’s nephew discussed the family’s situation recently on the podcast Black Hollywood Live, saying Katherine Jackson, Michael’s mother, has “relinquished” the guardianship.
When Michael died, Katherine, now 89, was granted custody of his children Paris, Prince, and Blanket. That decision was in accordance with the singer’s will.
But 10 years after Michael’s death, TJ, who has four children and two stepchildren of his own, says he and Katherine felt that it was time for him to step up and care for his uncle’s children.
While Paris and Prince are now adults at respectively 21 and 22 years old, Blanket is 17 and thus still needs a legal guardian.
“When [Michael] passed, my brothers and I, we went to our grandmother and basically told her, however we can help, we want to be there,” TJ said.
“... And then, you know, whenever she’d go out of town she’d always call me to see if I can come by, come to the house and, and watch them, you know, and I think she knew I was the only one with a child, so she knew I thought like a parent and I would take care of them like a parent.
“In time, as she’s gotten older, she’s kind of phased out of it and now I’m officially just the sole guardian. She relinquished it recently.
“But I was always there with my brothers, and I think it’s important because she’s almost 90 years old and she’s a grandma, you know, and, and she needs to relax and it’s tough raising kids, let alone teenagers so, for anyone, let alone a 90-year-old. So I think it was the right thing and she needs to relax and enjoy her grandkids as a grandmother.”
Michael died from a combination of drugs in his system on 25 June, 2009.
The documentary Leaving Neverland, in which two men make detailed allegations of child sexual abuse against the singer, won a Creative Arts Emmy on Saturday in the Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special category.
