News Detail
Katherine Jackson apparently back home
Katherine Jackson is apparently back home, reuniting with Michael Jackson's children after a judge temporarily took away her guardianship because of her dayslong absence from them.
Paris Jackson tweeted early Thursday morning: "grandma's here! (hash)thankyougod." Katherine Jackson's son Marlon also posted a note on Twitter saying his mother had returned, adding she looked and sounded great.
On Wednesday, a judge removed Katherine Jackson as guardian temporarily and named her grandson Tito Joe "TJ" Jackson as temporary caretaker of the late legend's three minor children amid a bitter family dispute over Michael Jackson's estate.
Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff issued the ruling because Katherine Jackson was in Arizona and hadn't spoken with the children in several days. TJ Jackson now has the ability to control the hilltop home where the children live and to take on other supervision duties.
Katherine Jackson told ABC News that the court ruling was "based on a bunch of lies."
"I am devastated that while I've been away, that my children, my grandchildren, have been taken away from me, and I'm coming home to see about that, also," she said reading from a prepared statement.
She denied the suggestion made in court and in court filings to support TJ Jackson's appointment that she was being held against her will.
"I am here today to let everybody know that I am fine and I am here with my children, and my children would never do a thing to me like that, holding me against my will," she said while her children Randy, Janet and Rebbie were seated next to her. "It's very stupid for people to think that."
But on Thursday, Michael Jackson's son Prince posted a photo of what he said was a group text message involving Rebbie and Janet in which he demanded contact with his grandmother and Janet allegedly responded: "Please don't let them."
"As long as I can remember my dad repeatedly warned me of certain people and their ways," Prince Michael tweeted. "Although I am happy my grandma was returned, after speaking with her I realize how misguided and how badly she was lied to. I'm really angry and hurt."
Beckloff said there was no evidence that Katherine Jackson had done anything wrong, but instead it appeared she was being prevented from fulfilling her role as guardian through the "intentional acts of third parties." He didn't elaborate but made the decision after reading court filings in which TJ Jackson expressed concern that Katherine Jackson was being prevented from returning.
He cited a Monday incident in which Janet, Randy and Jermaine Jackson arrived at the children's home and told them they could speak with their grandmother but had to leave with them.
"This was odd and disturbing to me and (the children) and heightened our concern that our grandmother was being prohibited from returning home," TJ Jackson wrote in a sworn statement. The incident turned into a confrontation between two male adults at the house and sheriff's officials say it remains an ongoing battery investigation.
Beckloff listened as attorneys described Katherine Jackson's demeanor as unusual on phone calls placed to the children hours before the hearing.
TJ Jackson's attorney Charles Shultz also revealed in court filings that the children were forced to miss school Wednesday because of concerns about their security.
Beckloff ruled the Jackson children could not leave California without court approval.
Katherine Jackson's attorney Perry Sanders Jr. said after the hearing that he spoke with his client as she was driving back to Los Angeles from Tucson, Ariz., where she had been since July 15.
"She sounded absolutely fine, lucid and her normal self," he said.
Sanders plans to ask the court to reinstate Katherine Jackson as guardian of the children when she is back in Los Angeles. He was looking forward to meeting with her in person on Thursday.
The public battle was revealed early Sunday after a relative reported Katherine Jackson missing, but she was later located safely with other family members in Arizona.
Jermaine Jackson has said his mother was following doctor's orders to cut off communications with the children, who range in age from 10 to 15. He didn't provide further details.
In addition to concerns about the safety of Jackson's children, some of Michael Jackson's siblings have recently called on the executors of his estate to resign.
Randy Jackson appeared Tuesday on Al Sharpton's MSNBC show PoliticsNation and said he believes his brother's will is a fake and that the executors have engaged in criminal activity.
The estate, which recently reported it saw $475 million in gross earnings since Jackson's death in June 2009, has denied wrongdoing and called the accusations "false and defamatory."
Beckloff, who also oversees financial issues affecting Jackson's estate, was initially reluctant to appoint a temporary guardian but changed his mind after hearing from several attorneys who expressed concern about the family's problems.
He made the ruling after hearing TJ Jackson's description of a "strange" conversation he had with Katherine Jackson on Tuesday evening.
"I've never heard my grandmother talk like that," he said reluctantly. "In every way. The sound in her voice. The pauses."
He said some of her speech sounded slurred and she used words that made him wonder if she was speaking in code.
Her son Marlon echoed those concerns on Twitter, complaining that siblings Janet, Randy and Jermaine were keeping her from him.
The children's guardian ad litem, Margaret Lodise, said she spoke with the children and the two oldest, Prince and Paris, supported the appointment of a temporary guardian. Lodise did not ask the youngest son, 10-year-old Blanket, for his views.
Lodise is responsible for overseeing the children's interests in the estate of their father.
Schultz said TJ Jackson didn't want to replace Katherine Jackson as permanent guardian. Still, the judge noted that TJ Jackson would have to petition to become the permanent guardian within 48 hours and added that such a petition might not be heard if Katherine Jackson re-emerges.
Sanders said he would fight any move to have her permanently replaced.
He said he met with Randy and Janet Jackson in Tucson, Ariz., on Tuesday, but he was not allowed to see his client. He said he still hoped the recent events were a misunderstanding, but he described them as "chaos."--(AP)
Multimedia
-
It was the Colors show that put the child artist on the map
Should Avika Gor come back to Balika Vadhu as Anandi? After finishing her stint with Balika Vadhu, Avika Gor signed on for Sasural Simar Ka – another show on Colors. However, fans still refer to Avika as Anandi.... READ MORE
-
Is Salman Khan suffering from short term memory loss?
Salman Khan is not in the pink of health these days. The Dabangg Khan is said to be suffering from short term memory loss. Wondering what are we talking about? Well, the story goes something like this… READ MORE
-
Revival of Attan: Afghanistan’s national dance
Banned under the Taliban, the centuries-old Afghan dance known as the Attan is flourishing once again. A traditional dance with its origins buried deep within Afghan history, the Attan was once a Pashtun speciality but i READ MORE
-
Here are some inside pictures of Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan
The three Khans of Bollywood shared a podium last night, which was nothing short of a historic moment. Take a look at some inside pictures from the event. And it just happened! Shahrukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan.. READ MORE
-
Is Barun Sobti putting an end to his marriage?
A crazy fan of the actor proposed him for marriage recently. So did he accept? Fans and their obsession with Bollywood is something we can never ignore. Joining the list of actors with crazy fan following is TV’s pin-u READ MORE
-
New film: "Kajaki"
“KAJAKI” explodes out of the blue. Based on the true story of a group of British paratroopers in Helmand, Afghanistan, in 2006, the film has received more attention than a low-key British indie flick usually would... READ MORE
-
Photo exhibition in Germany displays Afghans’ life, cultur
KABUL: A photo exhibition was held in Munich city of Germany, displaying the pictures captured by an Afghan and a German photographer which showed the ancient culture and way of life of Afghans... READ MORE
-
Arrests over killing of Honduras beauty queen Alvarado
Police in Honduras have arrested two men over the killing of beauty queen Maria Jose Alvarado, 19, and her sister who vanished on a night out last week. The bodies of Ms Alvarado and her sister Sofia Trinidad, 23, were f READ MORE
-
Peshawar hosts Afghan-Pak cultural show
KABUL: Peshawar has hosted a two-day long the Afghan-Pakistan cultural show in order to promote the commonalities in culture of the two countries, an organizer said. The two-day event was held at Nishtar Hall in capital READ MORE
-
Familiar face but unfamiliar role for this ‘Guest’
There was a time when television was a springboard to a film career, but even though that hasn’t been the case for a while, you can’t blame the residents of “Downton Abbey” for not hearing the news. After all, th READ MORE
-
Great Russian Movies For People Who Don’t Think They Like
Nobody loves Russian movies, even Russians themselves. Their films are very long, very slow, black & white or monochromatic. They are crowded by intellectual talk and lack plot, characters or any kind of entertainment... READ MORE
-
Oscar Pistorius due back in court as sentencing starts
South African athlete Oscar Pistorius returns to court later for sentencing after being convicted of killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius was found guilty of the culpable homicide of Ms Steenkamp last month READ MORE
-
Shah Rukh Khan gifts bike to Afghan American
WASHINGTON: For Najira, an Afghan American and her husband Jimmy Sunday night would remain etched on their memory as a memorable time in their life. The superstar of Indian movies Shah Rukh Khan not only picked them up f READ MORE
-
The Women of Afghanistan Sing for Freedom
In Afghanistan, there is little effort to combat derogatory and belittling portrayals of women in media. Women’s organizations focus on more tangible and urgent atrocities such as gender-based violence and women’s po READ MORE
-
Actor and director Richard Attenborough dies aged 90
Oscar-winning British film director Richard Attenborough has died at the age of 90, his son has said. Lord Attenborough was one of Britain's leading actors, before becoming a highly successful director... READ MORE
-
Indira Gandhi assassination: Controversial film blocked
India has blocked the release of a film on the assassination of former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi, after complaints it glorified her killers. Intelligence agencies had warned of potential violence if it is relea READ MORE
-
Ranbir Kapoor’s Barfi! to release in Japan!
The film has released in six Japanese cities. After garnering appreciation in countries like South Korea, Turkey, Taiwan, China and Hong Kong, Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Barfi! hit the theatres in Japan Friday... READ MORE
-
The Expendables 3 movie review: High on action, low on perfo
The film features Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger in the lead. Age is only a state of mind” – this statement that I heard in the film, immediately made my mind wander and think about all possible quotes READ MORE
-
US actress Lauren Bacall dies at 89
US film and stage actress Lauren Bacall has died at the age of 89. Her Hollywood career spanned seven decades, with a memorable debut aged 19 opposite her future husband, Humphrey Bogart, in To Have and Have Not... READ MORE
-
Khoobsurat trailer: Sonam Kapoor and Fawad Khan’s romance
The Sonam-Fawad starrer Khoobsurat trailer is out and here is why we are looking forward to this fairy-tale romance. All the buzz created around the first look of Khoobsurat had us pumped up for its trailer launch. We w READ MORE
Clippings
Iran and blame the victim game
Tehran is continuously interfering in Afghanistan and pressurizing Kabul under one pretext or the other. Iran’s meddling into our internal affairs while giving it name of concern as Tehran did it recently when its ambassa...
