Michael Jackson Estate Accuses Former Manager Of $213M Extortion Plot

Yahoo

a day ago

The Michael Jackson Estate has ignited a legal firestorm, filing a petition against longtime Jackson associate Frank Cascio for allegedly orchestrating a $213 million extortion scheme.
The case accuses Cascio of violating a confidential agreement by threatening to publicly reveal allegedly damaging and false claims about the King of Pop, years after he had defended his innocence.
Michael Jackson Estate Alleges Betrayal By Trusted Insider
Once a trusted confidant hailed as part of Jackson's "second family," Frank Cascio is now at the center of a shocking legal battle.
On Tuesday, the Michael Jackson Estate and The Michael Jackson Company, LLC submitted a petition to the Los Angeles Superior Court, accusing Cascio of attempting a massive civil extortion.
In the court documents obtained by The Blast, the estate alleges that Cascio, along with unnamed accomplices, demanded hundreds of millions of dollars to prevent the release of what they claim are false and defamatory accusations against the late pop icon.
"For over 30 years, Mr. Cascio proudly described himself as part of Michael's 'second family,' and repeatedly and publicly denied any misconduct by Mr. Jackson," a spokesperson for the estate told The Blast in a written statement. "Now, years after Michael's passing, Mr. Cascio is attempting to profit by reversing his position and manufacturing claims he previously denounced as false."
Michael Jackson Estate Cites Violation Of Confidential Agreement
At the heart of the legal dispute is a 2020 Confidential Acquisition and Consulting Agreement, which includes strict confidentiality and non-disparagement clauses, as well as a binding arbitration clause.
According to the estate, Cascio's current legal team, led by celebrity attorney Mark Geragos, who once defended Jackson, threatened to go public with the claims unless a massive settlement was reached.
"This is a straightforward case of civil extortion and breach of contract," said Martin D. Singer, the estate's attorney. "We will not allow the legacy of Michael Jackson to be exploited through threats and falsehoods."
The estate is seeking a court order to force Cascio into arbitration and prevent any public legal filings that could damage Jackson's posthumous reputation.
Arbitration proceedings reportedly began in September 2024 and remain ongoing.
Frank Cascio Faces Explosive Gambling Allegations
The lawsuit against Cascio comes two months after he faced allegations connected to unpaid gambling debts and questionable arrangements with Instagram models.
The 45-year-old reportedly contacted models through the platform, Seeking Arrangement, allegedly paying for their company on private outings.
Two influencers, Grace Glenn and Julia Geraci, recounted their unsettling experiences, revealing how their encounters with Cascio spiraled into something far darker.
"Frank was super chill and generous. Seemed like a really normal person and was polite. He paid for Ubers, dinner, and everything else," Grace told The Blast.
She added, "But then we were approached by random men literally outside our hotel. They told us that he owed a lot of money and they would pay us for any information, and they wanted to know where he was. We thought it was a prank at first, but after a few minutes, we realized it was serious."
Julia echoed the concern. "It was scary. I matched with him on SA (Seeking Arrangement) and thought he was just a rich guy with a lot of success in the music industry. He didn't have any Instagram or even Facebook when we tried to look him up or anything."
She continued, "At first, we thought it was just a catfish account until we called him on FaceTime. I thought maybe he could help us network or at least just have some fun."
Instagram Models Claim Cascio Vanished After Debt Collectors Showed Up
Grace and Julia, who have a combined following of over three million, say they were blindsided by men seeking repayment of more than $200,000 in alleged gambling debts owed by Cascio.
Julia later claimed, "He stopped responding to my texts and blocked me on SA (Seeking Arrangement)."
Cascio, whose ties to the Jackson family once granted him rare insider access, has remained silent amid mounting questions.
With no active social media presence or public statement, the former manager continues to elude the spotlight.
Michael Jackson's Friendship With Frank Cascio
Cascio first met Jackson in 1984 and quickly became part of the pop star's trusted inner circle.
By the age of 18, he had joined Jackson's team as an assistant and later became his manager.
In interviews and his memoir, "My Friend Michael: An Ordinary Friendship with an Extraordinary Man," Cascio frequently reminisced about their deep bond.
"We established a real friendship. We became a big family; Michael was a part of our family. Every Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthday—we made a point to celebrate together. It became tradition for all of us," he told HuffPost.
Solve the daily Crossword