“We were brainwashed, we were manipulated,” it says, among other things.
In April 2026, four siblings of the Cascio family made serious allegations against the late Michael Jackson to the New York Times. In the interview they described in detail what they said happened to them at the hands of Jackson.
Civil proceedings against the Jackson estate have also been ongoing since February 2026. The allegations come at a time when the musician is again receiving increased public attention thanks to the biopic “Michael” – in German cinemas since April 22nd.
Accusations in detail
The Cascio family was considered close to the artist during his lifetime and said they spent a lot of time with him – for example on tours, in his home or on international trips. What appeared to be a close friendship on the outside was actually the opposite, according to the family. All five siblings claim they were abused by Jackson.
In an interview with the New York Times, four of the five siblings fleshed out the allegations. Eddie Cascio is quoted as saying, “We were brainwashed, we were manipulated. I felt like he had taken away my manhood.”
Other siblings gave details of what they said happened to them. Aldo Cascio claimed the alleged abuse began when he was seven years old; Jackson performed oral sex on him at the time. Marie-Nicole Cascio and Dominic Cascio said they were twelve and eight years old, respectively, at the time the attacks allegedly began. The fifth of the Cascio children and their parents refused to take part in the interview.
Announcement after “Leaving Neverland”
According to their own statements, the Cascios went public as a result of the documentary “Leaving Neverland,” which was released on January 25, 2019. In it, Wade Robson and James Safechuck describe what allegedly happened to them on Jackson’s Neverland Ranch property. The Cascio siblings told the New York Times that they recognized parallels to their own experiences and then decided to publish it.
In the documentary, Robson and Safechuck describe Jackson as “a friend, a father, an emotional support in every way” – a relationship structure similar to the claimed closeness to the Cascio family.
Ongoing legal proceedings
In February 2026, the siblings filed a lawsuit against the Jackson estate, seeking several million dollars in damages. The process is not yet complete; a decision is pending.
