Janet Jackson On Michael Jackson’s Decision To Settle Child Molestation Lawsuit: He Just Wanted It To Go Away, But That Looks Like You’re Guilty

Janet Jackson talks about her relationship with Michael Jackson.

Music icon Janet Jackson’s new Lifetime documentary explores every aspect of the singer’s extraordinary life. Of course, Janet wouldn’t be complete if she didn’t talk about her famous brother, Michael Jackson. During Michael’s segment, she talked about how their fame forced them apart as they got older, and how she felt about him settling his child molestation lawsuit.

Michael & Janet Jackson, 1993

When Michael was slammed with child molestation allegations in 1993, Janet claimed that she wanted to support him. However, her decision to stand by her brother jeopardized her career. She stated:

“It was frustrating for me. We have our own separate lives and even though he’s my brother, that has nothing to do with me. But I wanted to be there for him, to support him as much as I possibly could.”

In 1994, Michael ended the legal battle by forking over $23 million to the alleged victim’s family. Janet said that, while she was confident in her brother’s innocence, the settlement made him appear guilty to the public.

“Michael wound up giving money to the family. He just wanted it to go away, but that looks like you’re guilty.”

The siblings were very close growing up, but their relationship changed drastically when they became multi-platinum selling adults. To the public, their legendary “Scream” collaboration was a brother-sister reunion that was long overdue. Janet–who felt the same about their mash-up–stated that this was far from the case. Instead, Michael’s team kept them apart on the set of their 1995 music video.

“Michael shot nights, I shot days. His record company would block off his set so I couldn’t see what was going on. They didn’t want me on set,”

Janet continued:

“I felt like they were trying to make it very competitive between the two of us. That really hurt me because I felt I was there fighting the fight with him, not to battle him,”

She added:

“I wanted it to feel like old times between he and I, and it didn’t. Old times had long passed.”

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