Four Cascio siblings, part of Michael Jackson's so-called secret family, have accused the late pop star of grooming and sexually abusing them as children. In a recent interview with 60 Minutes Australia, Eddie, Aldo, Dominic, and Marie-Nicole Cascio detailed their allegations, which were first brought to light in a lawsuit filed in February. The siblings claim Jackson was a serial child sex predator who abused them at the homes of Elizabeth Taylor and Elton John, among other locations.
Background of the Cascio Family and Jackson
The Cascio family's connection to Jackson began in the 1980s when the siblings' father, Dominic Sr., met the singer at the Helmsley Palace Hotel in New York. This chance encounter led to family holidays at Jackson's Neverland Ranch, world tours, private jet trips, and meetings with diplomats. Eddie, now 43, first met Jackson at age 2 during unannounced late-night home visits. Videos from that time show Jackson's chimpanzee, Bubbles, playing with the children.
Lavish Gifts and Manipulation
Jackson won over the family with lavish gifts, making them feel special. Eddie recalled, as quoted by the New York Post citing 60 Minutes Australia, "My parents were young. For them to have such a big celebrity want to be friends with them… they definitely felt special, and so did we. He made us feel like we were his family, his kids, his everything."
Details of the Alleged Abuse
The siblings claim the abuse spanned 25 years, occurring at Neverland Ranch and during tours. Eddie alleged that it began when he was 11 during the 1993 Dangerous tour, with Jackson abusing him every night in bed and continuing into adulthood. "We were on tour, and that's when Michael started to get closer and started rubbing me on my legs. I was sitting on his lap, and that's when the first kiss happened, where he kissed me on the lips," Eddie said.
Dominic described a game called "booty rumble," stating, "He would lay me on top of him with my genitals up against his. While he would shake, he would kind of push up against me." He added, "He would also drink my urine and tell me, 'This is how much I love you.' I'm maybe 12 years old at the time. Like, I'm a child who's seeing this man do this. And I said, 'Oh, I guess he really does love me. I mean, I would never want to drink someone's urine, so he must really love me.'"
Marie-Nicole said Jackson made her undress at age 12 while he masturbated looking at her. Aldo claimed Jackson pulled down his shorts during bed video games and performed oral sex, saying, "Doesn't that feel good? See, I love you. I love you."
Supply of Drugs
Jackson also allegedly supplied young children with alcohol and drugs, including "Jesus juice" (wine), "Disney juice" (hard liquor), Xanax, and Vicodin. Marie-Nicole recalled, "He gave me Xanax and Vicodin at 11 years old and told me I'd be floating and I would love it."
Training to Deny Abuse
The siblings claim Jackson trained them to deny the abuse to police and parents. Dominic remarked, "When you have the biggest superstar in the world in the 80s that wants to be your friend, you're vulnerable and easily manipulated." He further stated, "He's a monster, he's evil, what he did was evil. And he's tricked the whole world to think he's this innocent, perfect human being, and he's not."
Response from Jackson's Estate
Jackson's estate lawyer Marty Singer dismissed the allegations as a "money grab." He said, "Notably, these shakedown attempts come more than 15 years after Jackson's death, thus carrying no risk of being sued for defamation. Sadly, in death just as in life, Jackson's talents and success continue to make him a target."
The Cascio siblings' lawsuit is ongoing, and the allegations have reignited public debate about Jackson's legacy.
