The Michael Jackson Estate has launched legal action against Frank Cascio, a former close friend and longtime associate of the late pop superstar, accusing him of allegedly trying to extort more than $200 million by threatening to leak damaging claims, The Blast reports.
On Tuesday, the estate and The Michael Jackson Company, LLC filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court seeking to compel Cascio into arbitration, citing breach of contract and civil extortion.
“Mr. Cascio was part of Michael’s life for over 30 years, publicly defending him and calling himself family,” a spokesperson for the estate said in a statement.
“Now, years after Michael’s death, he is seeking to profit from claims he once rejected as false.”
The heart of the legal dispute lies in a 2020 confidentiality agreement. According to court documents, Cascio and his legal team, led by attorney Mark Geragos, who previously represented Jackson, allegedly demanded a massive settlement, threatening to make public statements that the estate calls “false and defamatory.”
“This is a clear case of civil extortion,” Martin D. Singer, attorney for the estate, told The Blast. “We will not stand by as Michael Jackson’s legacy is threatened by falsehoods and financial schemes.”
Arbitration proceedings reportedly began last September, and the estate is asking the court to enforce arbitration and prevent public filings they argue could harm Jackson’s posthumous reputation.
The lawsuit comes just two months after Cascio was linked to separate controversies involving unpaid gambling debts and allegations tied to his interactions with social media influencers.
Two influencers, Grace Glenn and Julia Geraci, both with large online followings, described unsettling experiences with Cascio after meeting him through the dating site Seeking Arrangement.
“Frank was super chill and generous. Seemed really normal — he paid for everything, Ubers, dinners,” Glenn told The Blast. “But then, random men came up outside our hotel saying he owed a lot of money and asking where he was. At first, we thought it was a joke. Then it got scary.”
Geraci added, “He didn’t even have an Instagram or Facebook, and we started wondering if it was a fake account. But after FaceTiming, we realized it was really him. We thought maybe he could help us network or at least have some fun.”
Cascio, 45, has yet to publicly respond.
In a 2017 HuffPost article, Cascio reflected on his relationship with Jackson. "We established a real friendship. We became a big family; Michael was a part of our family. Every Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthday, we made a point to celebrate together. It became tradition for all of us."
