A federal lawsuit alleges that sexual abuse by Michael Jackson began during his 1993 visit to Israel, where the singer performed in Tel Aviv at the height of his global fame.
The claims are based on a report by The New York Times and court filings by members of the Cascio family, who were long considered part of Jackson’s inner circle. Eddie Cascio said in the interview that the abuse began when he was 10, during the Israel trip, after he and his brother were left alone with the singer in a Tel Aviv hotel.
Jackson’s concerts in Tel Aviv were a major cultural event, drawing large crowds. During the visit, he stayed in a secured hotel floor with his entourage.
According to the lawsuit, the Cascio family had a close relationship with Jackson dating back to the 1980s, when their father managed a Manhattan hotel where the singer frequently stayed. The children spent time with him in the United States and on international tours, and the family publicly defended him for years against allegations of abuse.
In a 2010 interview with Oprah Winfrey, several of the siblings denied any inappropriate behavior, saying Jackson had never harmed them. They now say those statements were false, describing themselves as having been groomed to protect him.
Four of the five siblings have filed the lawsuit against Jackson’s estate, alleging repeated sexual abuse over a period of years in multiple locations, including during travel and at family homes. A fifth sibling has also alleged abuse but is not part of the lawsuit for legal reasons.
The lawsuit states that some of the siblings only recognized the nature of the abuse years later, including after watching the 2019 documentary “Leaving Neverland,” which detailed similar allegations by other accusers.
Court documents show the family reached a confidential settlement with the estate in 2020, receiving about $16 million over several years. The dispute resurfaced after payments ended and negotiations over additional compensation broke down, leading to the current lawsuit.
Attorneys for the estate deny the allegations, calling them inconsistent and financially motivated, and have moved to challenge the case in court.
The renewed claims come amid ongoing debate over Jackson’s legacy, following the release of a biographical film produced in cooperation with the estate.