Jacksons refute LaToya's charge Michael kept boys with him at family home - LaToya Jackson's views about child sexual abuse investigation of Michael Jackson

Jet, Dec 27, 1993

Members of the rumor-weary Jackson family have had to come to the defense of superstar Michael Jackson once again. This time, however, charges against him have come from sister LaToya, who several weeks ago, ironically, defended him on national television.

LaToya Jackson recently did an about face and has charged that brother Michael has molested young boys over the years at the family's home and that her mother, Katherine, knew about it. She made her charges first at a news conference in Tel Aviv, Israel, suggesting that "I can't remain silent. I will not be a silent collaborator in his crimes against small, innocent children."

She said that she is a victim of child abuse herself and knows how the alleged victims will be scarred for life. She also said her mother had shown her checks that Michael had made out to the families of the boys. "I don't know if these children were apparently bought from the parents by Michael or not."

Members of the Jackson clan hastily held a news conference at their home in L.A. with father Joe saying that LaToya's charges are "ridiculous. It's a lie!"

Mrs. Jackson added: "I wouldn't let anything like that go on in my home and she knows it. They're (LaToya and husband Jack Gordon) just jumping on the bandwagon. She is doing it for money, she and her so-called husband, Jack Gordon. That's how they make their money." She described Gordon as a "money-hungry mongrel."

Jermaine said at the news conference "LaToya is our sister and she knows people will listen to her." He said the family still loves LaToya and would like for her to come back because at a time of crisis, there is a need for families to stick together.

LaToya followed up her news conference with an appearance on the "Today" show where host Katie Couric immediately asked her why she charged her brother after having defended him on that very program. "Because my mother went ballistic and threw a fit and saying that it wasn't true."

She told Couric that she had not personally seen her brother in bed with anyone and wasn't certain that the checks were actually |hush' money to the parents.

"I do know he'd have boys over all the time and they'd stay in his room for days. Then they would come out and then there'd be another boy and he'd bring someone else but never two at a time...My mother is very much aware of all the children, all the boys whove stayed there. She's the one who'd always call him 'faggot.' She said 'I can't stand it. He's nothing but a, faggot.' Now, she's denying it. And that's what hurts."

She said her mother is denying all of it because Michael financially supports most members of the family. "If she were to tell the truth, Michael would drop everything and she would probably be out on the street."

LaToya said she knows brother Michael better than the other siblings because the two of them remained at the family home while most of the others married early and moved out.

"When they (the brothers) would come over to the house, Michael would say |have them make an appointment.' I'd have to make excuses saying |he's busy.' He didn't want to be bothered."

Couric tried to press her about the large sums of money and Ms. Jackson said the sums were 'substantial' but she could not say with any degree of certainty what it was for.

LaToya denied charges that she went public for money because she is not getting any. Her mother, she said, is afraid because she (LaToya) knows too much and doesn't know what she might say.