Michael Jackson's Former Friends Accuse Estate of Child Sex Abuse

The Cascio siblings claim the late pop star drugged, raped and sexually assaulted them as children.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 5:55am

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Four former friends of Michael Jackson - Frank, Dominic, Marie-Nicole Porte and Aldo Cascio - have filed a lawsuit against the late singer's estate, alleging that he 'drugged, raped, and sexually assaulted' them when they were as young as 7 or 8 years old. The Cascio family claims Jackson 'groomed and brainwashed' them using 'methods typical of child predators' and his 'wealth and fame' to conceal the abuse.

Why it matters

This lawsuit is the latest in a series of allegations against Michael Jackson regarding child sexual abuse, which have continued to haunt his legacy even after his death in 2009. The Cascio family's claims add to the ongoing debate around Jackson's conduct and the responsibility of his estate in addressing these allegations.

The details

According to the lawsuit, the Cascio siblings allege that Jackson 'insinuated' himself into their lives after meeting through their father, who worked at one of the luxury hotels Jackson frequented. The family claims Jackson showered them with 'lavish gifts,' 'obsessive attention' and 'access to his celebrity lifestyle' before the abuse began. They also allege that Jackson 'plied them with drugs and alcohol' and 'showed them pornography' to 'normalize the abuse and desensitize them'.

  • The alleged abuse began when some of the Cascio siblings were as young as 7 or 8 years old.
  • The lawsuit was filed on February 28, 2026 in Los Angeles.

The players

Frank, Dominic, Marie-Nicole Porte and Aldo Cascio

Former friends of Michael Jackson who have filed a lawsuit against the late singer's estate, alleging he sexually abused them as children.

Michael Jackson

The late pop star who is accused of sexually abusing the Cascio siblings when they were children.

Mark Geragos

Jackson's former attorney who the Cascio siblings claim told them to 'hide' from in the early 2000s to conceal their stays with Jackson.

Howard King

The current attorney representing the Cascio family in their lawsuit against Jackson's estate.

Marty Singer

The attorney representing Michael Jackson's estate, who has denied the Cascio family's allegations as a 'desperate money grab'.

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What they’re saying

“This lawsuit is a desperate money grab by additional members of the Cascio family who have hopped on the bandwagon with their brother Frank, who is already being sued in arbitration for civil extortion.”

— Marty Singer, Attorney for Michael Jackson's estate

“The family staunchly defended Michael Jackson for more than 25 years, attesting to his innocence of inappropriate conduct. This new court filing is a transparent forum-shopping tactic in their scheme to obtain hundreds of millions of dollars from Michael's estate and companies.”

— Marty Singer, Attorney for Michael Jackson's estate

What’s next

The Cascio family's case against Michael Jackson's estate is set to be heard in a follow-up hearing scheduled for March 5, 2026.

The takeaway

This lawsuit represents the latest chapter in the ongoing controversy surrounding Michael Jackson's alleged sexual abuse of children, which has continued to haunt his legacy even after his death. The claims by the Cascio family raise difficult questions about the responsibility of Jackson's estate in addressing these allegations.