Michael Jackson's Father, Joe Jackson, Exploits Singer Even in Death

As the world continues to mourn the death of Michael Jackson I wonder at the select few that seek to capitalize on the death of a legend. An individual that exploit s another has no trace of selflessness, but when the people being exploited are that individual's own family, that just screams disgust! Since the untimely death of Michael Jackson, people are appalled at the various reports of exploitive behaviors that have been read, heard and seen in the media.

Michael's memorial service though overall was a sad occasion carried an air of politics and hypocrisy in some parts; it was not until the end that one felt the real pain and sense of loss and was left to wonder where the support and compassion for the singer was when he was alive but evidently not well. However the real disappointment (but definitely not shocking) is with the meander-type behavior of his father and former manager Joe Jackson.

Joe Jackson has always been known as the one who made the Jackson Five into the legend they had become. He was persistent, determined and austere, and in some twisted way, made both the group and its members realize their true potential as artistes. However, the cost of success for Joe's children may not have been worth it.

Joe Jackson's Profiteering Attempts

Katherine Jackson, Michael's mother, was one of the persons named as potential custodian for Michael's three children, Paris, Prince Michael and Prince Michael 11. This has sparked much debate since Diana Ross was also named and the fact that Deborah Rowe (the mother for Prince Michael and Paris) is also seeking custody of all three children although she was not mentioned in Michael's will.

In recent developments it is reported that Joe Jackson wants to share custody with his estranged wife and in statement alluded that both he and Katherine are what is best for the children; family members are wary that there may be an ulterior motive. The move is definitely not a good thing with rumors surfacing that Joe is thinking of taking Michael's three kids on a world tour in 2010 under the group name Jackson Three. It is also said that he offered recording contracts to two of the kids. This venture if pursued would really show the selfishness of a man and his total disregard to the wants of his deceased son, knowing that Michael had made every attempt to protect his children from the latent dangers of publicity.

In other news Time.com reported that Joe Jackson may have received $200,000 for the use of family films, the offer somehow tied to an interview done with ABC. Wikipedia.org stated that during the June 28^th airing of the BET awards, Joe Jackson in an interview spoke about his new hip-hop recording project.

There where other public incidents where Joe Jackson showed insensitivity towards his family, as in 2003 during an interview for a BBC TV documentary centered on the alleged abuse of his children; he sought to promote his record label's new artists.

In the end only the family and the judicial system can determine the outcome of the custodian battle, but we hope that all will consider and ultimately decide what is in the best interest of the children as their grandfather has already caused irreversible damage to his family, and should never be given the chance of repeating this.

Sources:

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20090713/mjs-father-intends-create-jackson-three.htm

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1910033,00.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Jackson_(manager)