The Casio brothers sued the pop icon’s estate and company in February following years of allegations of abuse.
Michael Jackson’s estate sued over child sex trafficking charges
Four brothers who are former friends of the Jackson family have filed a lawsuit against Michael Jackson’s estate, accusing them of child sex trafficking.
A group of brothers who filed a lawsuit against Michael Jackson’s estate for alleged child sex trafficking are sharing new details of abuse allegations against the late pop icon.
In an interview with The New York Times published on April 24, sisters Edward Cascio, Dominic Cascio, and Aldo Cascio, along with sister Marie Nicole Port, opened up about allegations of sexual abuse they suffered as children during their close relationship with Jackson. The Cascio family reportedly became friends with Jackson after his father, Dominick Cascio Sr., a Manhattan hotel manager, met Jackson in the 1980s.
The brothers’ February lawsuit filed in California federal court alleges that Jackson’s employees aided and abetted his alleged abuse and concealed it, using false pretenses to pressure the Cassios to sign an agreement prohibiting them from “discussing the abuse they had endured over the years.”
In addition to child sex trafficking, the complaint alleges negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of contract and fraud. They are seeking financial compensation and a ruling that the agreement signed can be invalidated.
The Cassios, who were often referred to as Jackson’s “second family,” have denied allegations of sexual misconduct by Jackson in interviews with Oprah Winfrey and others in 2010.
Now they say that was a lie. “We were brainwashed and groomed,” Edward Cascio told the New York Times. He said he and his siblings were “taught” by Mr. Jackson to defend him against abuse allegations.
Marty Singer, an attorney for Jackson’s estate, dismissed the Cassios’ claims in a statement to the paper, saying, “The Cassios are the epitome of unreliable sources. Their stories have shifted and changed over and over again to suit whatever their current agenda is.”
USA TODAY has reached out to the Jackson residence for comment.
Cassios’ remarks came as Michael, a biopic about the pop superstar’s illustrious career, was released in theaters. It’s worth noting that the film makes no mention of Jackson’s legal problems or sexual abuse accusations.
Casio brothers recall Michael Jackson’s abuse allegations
In an interview with The New York Times, the Cascio brothers detailed Jackson’s sexual abuse allegations.
Port, now 37, told the outlet that she was 12 years old when Jackson molested her in his home, where she reportedly stayed for several months after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Jackson told the Times that he sometimes masturbated while looking at himself naked.
Dominic Cascio, 39, said his sexual relationship with the “King of Pop” began when he was about eight years old during a trip to Euro Disney (now Disneyland Paris), where they lay naked in bed together. Dominique said the ensuing encounter included Jackson masturbating.
Edward Cascio said the alleged sexual encounters with the singer continued into his adult life. “I felt like he took my masculinity away from me,” said Edward, now 43.
When contacted by USA TODAY, their attorney reiterated the statement.
A February lawsuit obtained by USA TODAY describes Jackson as a “serial child predator who drugged, raped, and sexually assaulted the Cascios over a period of more than a decade.”
The lawsuit also says they met with the Jackson Estate in 2019 about the claim and were then offered “five annual payments of approximately $690,000” in exchange for an “acquisition and consulting agreement.” The negotiations are said to have taken place after the release of HBO’s shocking documentary Leaving Neverland.
The brothers’ other brother, Frank Cascio, who wrote a 2011 memoir, “My Friend Michael,” also told the New York Times that he too was sexually abused, but was not allowed to participate in the brothers’ federal lawsuit because he was involved in the arbitration process surrounding the original agreement.
Jackson’s estate attorney Marty Singer, who previously called the case a “hopeless money grab,” said all of the Cascio brothers are involved in the arbitration case. He claimed that their latest complaint was an attempt to avoid resolving the dispute under a previous agreement.
According to the New York Times, Jackson’s estate plans to request that the lawsuit be dismissed or put on hold while arbitration continues.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline We offer free and confidential support in English and Spanish 24/7 via chat and 800-656-4673..
Contributor: KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY
