Jacko's Mom Gets The Kids, As His Dad Outs Adult Son
Rowe wants to be a mom, just not a guardian
By GREG WILSON
Updated 12:11 PM PDT, Thu, Jul 30, 2009
Debbie Rowe, mother of two of Michael Jackson's children, agreed not to seek custody of them one day after the late singer's father acknowledged a 25-year-old man who had been seen frequently with Jackson is the King of Pop's fourth kid.
Rowe said she wants to be a mom to son Prince Michael, now 12, and daughter Paris, 11, but relinquished guardianship to Jackson's 79-year-old mother, Katherine Jackson. The singer had one other known child, known as Blanket, whose mother is unidentified.
But the eccentric superstar's paternal output turned even more mysterious Wednesday night, when his father, Joseph Jackson, appeared to admit that Omer Bhatti, 25, is Michael Jackson's first kid.
"I knew he had another son," Jackson told NewsOne.com. "Yes I did. He looks like a Jackson, he acts like a Jackson, he can dance like a Jackson."
Bhatti has denied rumors in the past that he is Michael Jackson's son.
While Bhatti is too old to be involved in any custody battle involving Jackson's children, lawyers for Rowe and Katherine Jackson expected a deal to be approved by a judge on Monday that makes Katherine Jackson the kids' guardian with Rowe getting visitation rights. A psychologist will determine the schedule for Rowe to visit the kids.
"The parties engaged in a dignified discussion that resulted in a dignified outcome," said Rowe's lawyer, Eric George. "The sole consideration between the parties was the best interests of the children."
Rowe, 50, is the mother of son Prince Michael, now 12, and daughter Paris, 11. She had been rumored to be seeking a multi-million dollar deal to drop any custody claim, but will get no money beyond the spousal deal she got when she and Jackson divorced in 1999, according to a joint statement from the parties' lawyers.
L. Londell McMillan and Diane Goodman, attorneys Katherine Jackson, said the talks were never contentious.
"We were all united in our goals to do what is best for Michael's wonderful children, and both Mrs Jackson and Debbie Rowe were on the exact same page," they said in a statement.
Rowe, who has never had a relationship with the kids, will have visitation rights, and will seek to establish a maternal bond with her children under the supervision of a psychiatrist, NBC reported. The children have been told she is their mother, NBC reported. She and Katherine Jackson will share the cost of a psychologist for the kids.
In his will, Jackson expressed a desire that his mother get his kids, which includes a third child, nicknamed Blanket, whose mother is unknown. Her name is missing from his birth certificate.
Katherine Jackson was awarded temporary custody of the children following the singer's death on June 25. She was awarded 40% of the singer's estate in a will Jackson signed in 2002, with another 40% going to the children and 20% to charity.
First Published: Jul 30, 2009 3:56 AM PDT
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