Katherine Jackson Pushes Back against Her Grandson in Court

In a striking twist to the ongoing saga of one of music’s most iconic families, Katherine Jackson takes a stand against her grandson over financial disputes. The courtroom battle sheds new light on the deep-rooted tensions surrounding the allocation of the late superstar’s estate.

Regarding the unfolding saga that has captured public attention, Katherine Jackson, the matriarch of the Jackson family, stands firm against her grandson, Bigi Jackson, in a poignant legal battle over the estate of the late pop icon Michael Jackson. This dispute not only highlights a family divided but also brings to light the complexities surrounding the legacy of the King of Pop.

The legal drama intensified when Bigi filed a court objection to his grandmother utilizing Michael’s estate funds to cover her legal expenses. Central to the dispute is Katherine’s resistance to a lucrative catalog deal with Sony, which Bigi previously deemed a “waste” of time.

In a detailed response, Katherine’s filings offer a compelling argument against Bigi’s objection, stating, “The Executors cannot in good faith contend that the Estate does not have sufficient available funds to allow the Trust to make the requested payment.”

She is also challenging the estate executors for their frugality, asserting that their cautious approach to fund allocation restricts a more generous distribution to beneficiaries of an estate valued at an astonishing $1.5 billion.

Katherine further argues that covering her legal fees would not detrimentally impact the estate’s financial health. Her legal team emphasizes the estate’s substantial valuation, arguing that the payment of her legal fees, amounting to half a million dollars, would not cause “loss to creditors or injury to the estate or any interested person.”

According to reports, this battle is not just about financial transactions but also about maintaining control and ensuring fair distribution among the beneficiaries.

The “Bad” artist’s wealthy estate which is being contested over did not amount to its over a billion dollar net worth overnight. In fact, the late musical legend’s success story narrates a tale of very humble beginnings. Reflecting on her son’s modest upbringing in Gary, Indiana, in a past interview from 2013, Katherine previously recalled a life far removed from the opulence that would later define her “sweet little boy’s” career.

Living paycheck to paycheck in a small home, young Michael demonstrated an early entrepreneurial spirit, delighting in setting up a candy store for neighborhood kids. This simple, joy-filled existence starkly contrasts with the legal disputes and complex legacy that would follow, highlighting the journey of the Jackson family from humble beginnings to a towering legacy.

It was the affluence burgeoning from this towering legacy that enabled Michael’s youngest son, Bigi, to purchase a $2.62 million home in 2020. This was a vast departure from his late dad’s humble origins, marking a transition to the privileges afforded by the Jackson estate’s wealth which underscored a new era of financial freedom and lifestyle changes for not just Bigi but also his siblings.

The lavish spending habits of Michael’s children—fueled by an annual $8 million allowance (a figure previously reported by a news outlet)—spotlight a life of privilege. This extravagance extends to high-end vacations, luxury vehicles, and significant sums spent on education and personal gifts.

For instance, Prince’s penchant for showering gifts on girlfriends and Bigi’s investment in personal hobbies and fine dining highlight a stark contrast to their father’s childhood. This lifestyle, underpinned by the estate’s earnings, showcases a transformation from Michael’s early years of financial scarcity to a life of abundant wealth and opportunity for his heirs.

Drawing back to the current legal dispute between Katherine Jackson and Bigi Jackson, in a move that preceded the recent happenings, Katherine relinquished her co-guardianship of Bigi to his cousin, TJ Jackson, in 2017 when he was 15. This decision, prompted by Katherine’s acknowledgment of her advancing age and Bigi’s maturing needs, marked a significant shift in the guardianship dynamic within the Jackson family.

“Given her own age [87] […] Katherine feels that TJ is able to assume all necessary responsibilities of the guardianship for the Minor Child,” the court documents stated, signaling a new chapter in the care and stewardship of Michael’s youngest son.

Although tensions between Bigi and his grandmother may be on the rise, familial relationships that remain solid are the bonds he shares with Prince and Paris. Bigi’s reflections on their father’s legacy, coupled with Prince’s emphasis on the siblings’ close relationships, highlight a familial bond that transcends the complexities of legal battles and financial disputes.

This enduring connection underscores the strength of familial connection, a legacy of love and shared history that outlasts the ephemeral nature of material wealth and legal contention.

As we previously reported on March 22, 2024, Katherine and Bigi’s court drama got started when he initiated legal action against her in an effort to stop her from using funds from his late father’s estate.

A few days ago, it was reported that Michael Jackson’s youngest son, Bigi “Blanket” Jackson, filed documents against his grandmother. In his document, Bigi asked the court to prevent Katherine, his grandmother, from using funds from the late singer’s estate.

According to the reports, Katherine wants to use the money to appeal a past ruling. It concerns her son’s property. Before, Bigi and Katherine were on the same side. They sought to stop the executors of Jackson’s estate from a business transaction.

The nature of the transaction is unknown. But, it reportedly involved the executors wanting to sell half of the late singer’s music catalog to Sony. Unfortunately, Bigi and Katherine lost their case with the court ruling against them.

Since losing, Bigi has given up on the case. However, Katherine Jackson did not, and she decided to appeal. Bigi did not support her decision and did not want to be part of it. On that note, he wants the court to stop his grandmother. He does not want her to use money from Michael’s estate to pay the legal bills.

While a judge has not ruled on her appeal, Bigi Jackson does not believe Katherine would win. He also can’t see how it would benefit the trust’s beneficiaries if she continued to fight. Now, he is asking the court to only repay her for the money she spent before her appeal.

Social media users have shared their thoughts on the issue on X, formerly Twitter. One user wrote, “Ummm, BLANKET….or whatever your name is, that is THEEE KATHERINE JACKSON AND HER BILLS MUST ALWAYS BE PAID!”

Another stated, “He better leave Miss.Katherine Jackson alone before DNA gets called and rocks his world.” One penned, “#BlanketJackson suing #KATHERINEJACKSON??? They’re not even BLOOD relatives!!! HOW DARE THEY!! #MichaelJackson.”

A social media user commented, “Everyone keeps asking me to comment on the lawsuit that Michael’s little white children brought against queen Mama Katherine and I have no comment. This is who HE chose. We have to start respecting Black men’s choices and who they decide to give their kingdoms too.”

Another social media user who supports Katherine tweeted, “No one has given more to the world than Katherine Jackson. I don’t know what the lawsuit was about but she deserves.”

While Michael Jackson was growing up, his mother was a homemaker. She was married to Joseph Jackson, who worked as a steel mill worker. Her first home with her large family had two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a small utility room.

She would make the clothes her children wore. For their footwear, she shopped from sales or the Salvation Army store. When her husband lost his job, she would go with him to farms. They would pick vegetables there, and she would store them after canning for her family.

As they were not wealthy, Katherine and her husband always planned ahead. They would buy meat in large quantities and store it in the freezer. This would last them for a long time.

At the time of Michael’s death, his will stated that if any of his children were minors, he nominated his mother as their guardian. However, he wrote that if she was dead, unable, or unwilling to be their guardian, he nominated Diana Ross to act in that capacity.

Michael’s children are Prince Michael Jr., Paris Michael Katherine, and Prince Michael Joseph II. They are now adults. When Bigi was 18, he bought an over two million dollar home in Calabasas, California. He bought the place because he loved his privacy.

When Bigi and his siblings were much younger, they split an $8 million allowance yearly. The money increased from $5 million as their father’s estate grew in its earnings.

However, when Bigi was 15, Katherine passed his guardianship to his cousin, Tito Joe “TJ” Jackson. In her filing, the then-87-year-old Katherine noted that she could no longer fulfill her duties.

Despite his recent troubles with his grandmother, Bigi is close to his siblings. Two years ago, he remarked that he and his siblings continue to honor their father’s legacy. Bigi is a climate change activist. He loves to do things that he hopes people can benefit from.

What do you think about this? Do you think he was right to sue his grandmother who was once his guardian? Share your thoughts with us on Facebook and subscribe to our Facebook page for more updates.