The close-knit Cascio family, once known as part of Michael Jackson’s inner circle and long described as his “second family,” has accused the late pop star of sexually abusing all five of its children in a newly filed lawsuit that sharply contradicts years of public denials.
The New York Times reports that, for more than two decades, Dominic and Connie Cascio, along with their children, were deeply embedded in Jackson’s life.
The pop icon frequently stayed at their New Jersey home, vacationed with them at Neverland Ranch, and included them in tours and holidays. Their relationship was so close that the family appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show in 2010, where they unanimously denied any wrongdoing by Jackson and defended him against long-standing abuse allegations.
At the time, the children insisted nothing inappropriate had occurred, with one sibling saying Jackson was “a target” of false accusations.
But more than 15 years later, the family’s account has dramatically changed.
Four of the five Cascio siblings are now plaintiffs in a lawsuit against Jackson’s estate, alleging they were sexually abused by the singer over a period of years, beginning in childhood.
One sibling is also said to have made similar allegations but is not part of the suit due to separate legal proceedings.
In interviews and court filings, the siblings say they were “groomed” from a young age to protect Jackson and publicly defend him, describing themselves as his “soldiers.”
They claim they only began to understand the nature of their experiences after watching the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland, which detailed similar abuse allegations by other men.
One of the plaintiffs, Aldo Cascio, now 35, alleges the abuse began when he was about seven years old, claiming it occurred in multiple locations, including Jackson’s home, tour stops, and Neverland Ranch.
Other siblings, including Marie Nicole Porte and Dominic Cascio, also describe repeated sexual abuse during their childhood years.
The family says the alleged abuse remained hidden for years because of Jackson’s global fame and his influence over them. They claim he made them believe their relationship with him was special and secret, warning them that exposure would harm both his career and their lives.
The siblings also alleged that they were emotionally manipulated into denying the abuse, even when questioned by their parents.
Jackson’s estate has strongly denied all allegations, describing the lawsuit as financially motivated and calling the claims inconsistent with the family’s long history of defending the singer.
Lawyers for the estate said the case is part of an attempt to obtain “hundreds of millions of dollars” and insisted the accusations are false and opportunistic.
They also argued that the siblings previously entered into a settlement agreement that included financial payments and confidentiality arrangements following earlier discussions with the estate.
According to court documents, tensions escalated after those payments ended in 2025, leading to renewed legal action and demands for additional compensation.
The dispute has reopened long-standing debates over Jackson’s legacy, which continues to divide public opinion decades after he died in 2009.
Jackson, who was acquitted of child molestation charges in a 2005 trial, consistently denied all allegations of sexual abuse during his lifetime. His estate has maintained that position since his death.
AFP
