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Paris Jackson’s $65 Million Tantrum: Family Power Struggles Explode in New Estate War

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — There are moments in a family’s life when truth becomes a battlefield, when people confuse the echo of old wounds for revelation, and when the soft stir of resentment becomes a storm.

Published

7 months ago

November 20, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

There are moments in a family’s life when truth becomes a battlefield, when people confuse the echo of old wounds for revelation, and when the soft stir of resentment becomes a storm. Paris Jackson has opened such a storm. Her new legal filing against the Michael Jackson Estate radiates anger, suspicion, and the weight of history. She claims the men who rebuilt her father’s empire have turned probate into a forever machine that feeds them riches while denying her and her brothers the transparency that she insists is owed to them.

But beneath that filing lies something older and more complicated. Long before Paris entered a courtroom, a faction within the Jackson family rejected the executors, John Branca and John McClain, and never accepted that Michael gave them the authority to run everything. It is a faction that has included Randy Jackson, who once desired the executor’s role for himself, and his sister Janet Jackson, who has, at various points, stood in open opposition to the Estate. Several insiders say that faction has found a new vessel in Paris, and her filing reads like a continuation of their war, not the beginning of hers.

Her petition accuses the executors of dragging probate into a sixteenth year because they benefit from the delay. She calls the Estate a private kingdom that shelters itself in silence. She claims they sit on more than $460 million in cash that earned next to nothing in 2021, that they paid themselves $7,981,204 in fees that same year, and that Branca’s own law firm received $2,162,439 on top of that. She says more than $148 million has already gone to the executors through 2021. She argues that while they prosper, she and her brothers remain dependent on financial reports that arrive years too late.

But the rest of the story, the one inside the documents, is larger than Paris’s filing allows. It is the story of how Branca and McClain inherited an Estate that was more than $500 million in debt, riddled with nasty and unproven allegations, and raised it into a multi-billion-dollar force that now surpasses $3 billion in value. It is the story of projects that have sold more than $2 billion in tickets worldwide. It is the story of a lawyer who negotiated the ATV Beatles publishing deal, the catalog acquisition that changed the industry, and whose work for Michael spanned decades. It is the story of “This Is It,” the highest-grossing concert film in history, “MJ: The Musical,” which continues to play to sold-out houses and has been showered with Tony Awards, “The Immortal World Tour,” “Michael Jackson ONE,” and the $600 million Sony catalog deal that fortified the Estate with unprecedented strength.

The documents note that Katherine Jackson has received more than $60 million in support since Michael’s death – a reaffirmation of the love the King of Pop always displayed toward his beloved mother. The late Tito and Jackie Jackson have been among the most steadfast supporters of the executors, calling this perhaps the greatest and most organized Estate administration in modern entertainment history. One observer quoted in the record put it simply. The executors had taken such careful control of Michael Jackson’s legacy that his heirs, including Paris herself, would be able to feed dozens of generations of Jacksons.

That is the scale of what Paris is attacking.

Even her argument about the upcoming Antoine Fuqua biopic, “Michael,” cracks under closer scrutiny. In the filing, she claims that the project lacks A-list performers except for Miles Teller, the actor portraying John Branca. That is false. The cast includes Nia Long as Katherine Jackson and Lorenz Tate as Berry Gordy, both acclaimed, award-winning performers with long and respected careers. Colman Domingo, one of the most decorated actors of his generation, anchors one of the lead roles. He has earned Emmy wins, Academy Award nominations, Tony Award nominations, and in 2024 was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world. The film stars Michael’s nephew Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop, and Paris’s own brother Prince serves as an executive producer, a direct contradiction to her claim that the film is a playground for the executors.

But the contradiction that towers above all others is the one in Paris’s own life. Public records show she has received more than $65 million from the Estate to date. Her brothers, Prince and Bigi, have received far less, creating a disparity that insiders say no one in the public ever seems to notice. When Paris sues the Estate, she is suing the very entity that pays her. Any attorney fees the Estate must now cover because of her lawsuit will be drawn from the pool that funds her own wealth. As one family insider put it, “What person has a $65 million allowance. Well, that is Paris Jackson.”

Some whisper that the pain she has carried, the years of battling addiction, the struggle with mental health that has been openly acknowledged, and the volatility that has surrounded her adulthood may be driving her toward those who want to aim her anger elsewhere. Sources quoted earlier agreed that her latest actions are out of step with the triumph of the Estate. One said, “Michael died more than five hundred million dollars in debt. The Estate not only cleared that, it built a fortune. For her to turn on them now is shocking.” Another warned, “She’s stubborn and she’s getting disastrously bad advice.”

The executors and those aligned with them see the truth in quieter terms. They point to the will Michael signed. They point to the courts that upheld their authority. They point to the billions generated. They point to the musicals, films, tours, Las Vegas residencies, catalog sales, and international productions that have reborn Michael Jackson’s legacy. They point to the support given to Katherine, to Tito, to Jackie, to the children, to charities. They point to an empire that was resurrected from ruins.

A source close to the Estate had the last word, and it carries the weight of a closing door. “This is another misguided attempt by Paris Jackson’s attorneys to provide themselves cover. The fact is, Paris Jackson’s lawyers lost their latest case against the Estate and have been ordered to pay the Estate’s attorneys’ expenses. All the beneficiaries are well taken care of by the Estate. This is a weak attempt to change the narrative of their loss.”

Stacy M. Brown

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Study: Waiting Lists for Child Care Assistance Nearly Doubled

BLACKPRESS USA NEWSWIRE — “Since the expiration of tens of billions of dollars in federal child care funding in 2023 and 2024, an already fragile child care system has been pushed even closer to the brink.”
The post Study: Waiting Lists for Child Care Assistance Nearly Doubled appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 day ago

June 8, 2026

Oakland Post

By National Women’s Law Center

The National Women’s Law Center released its annual State Child Care Assistance Policies report, finding that the number of children placed on waiting lists for federally funded child care assistance nearly doubled between 2024 and 2025 — and that number has only continued to grow.

The report serves as a key resource for state lawmakers, advocates, and policymakers by tracking state child care assistance policies and identifying where states are strengthening support for families and early educators — or falling behind.

“This deeply troubling increase in the number of children on child care waiting lists is the result of a failure to invest in this crucial sector,” said Karen Schulman, senior director of state child care policy and author of the report. “Since the expiration of tens of billions of dollars in federal child care funding in 2023 and 2024, an already fragile child care system has been pushed even closer to the brink.”

Key findings in the report related to waiting lists for child care assistance include:

• 17 states had waiting lists or a freeze on intake for child care assistance in February 2025, up from 13 states in February 2024.

• Approximately 106,700 children nationwide were added to waiting lists between February 2024 and February 2025, bringing the total to 225,500 children in February 2025 — a 90 percent increase compared to February 2024.

• The numbers climbed even further between February 2025 and summer/fall 2025, with more than 175,000 additional children added to state waiting lists in just a few months — a 78 percent increase.

• At least seven states newly began placing families on waiting lists or freezing intake, while at least 10 additional states saw their waiting lists grow, after February 2025.

The report also includes state-by-state data on key child care assistance policies, including income eligibility limits, parent copayments, provider payment rates, and eligibility policies for parents searching for work.

Click the link to learn more: Warning Signs: State Child Care Assistance Policies 2025.

The post Study: Waiting Lists for Child Care Assistance Nearly Doubled appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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Venus Williams Calls a Sabalenka Exit a Tragedy

ROLLING OUT — Crucially, Williams did not read the comment as a real farewell. She said she did not believe Sabalenka truly wanted to leave, calling such an outcome a loss for both the player and the sport.
The post Venus Williams Calls a Sabalenka Exit a Tragedy appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 days ago

June 7, 2026

Oakland Post

The seven-time major champion read frustration, not a real goodbye, in the world No. 1’s words

By David Kesiena | Rolling Out

When the world’s top-ranked player said she wanted to walk away from the sport, Venus Williams chose empathy over alarm.

Aryna Sabalenka’s blunt remark after her French Open quarterfinal collapse rattled plenty of fans, but Williams heard something different in it. The seven-time Grand Slam champion treated the comment as the raw reaction of a hurting athlete rather than a serious signal about her future.

The collapse that triggered the comment

Sabalenka looked headed for a routine win over Diana Shnaider. She took the opening set 6-3 and built a commanding lead in the second, climbing to 4-1 and later serving for the match at 5-4 while sitting just two points from victory.

Then everything unraveled. Shnaider stormed back to steal the second set 7-5 and bageled the world No. 1 in the third, with Sabalenka dropping 12 of the final 13 games in gusty conditions that reached around 26 mph. The 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 result sent Shnaider into her first Grand Slam semifinal and extended Sabalenka’s long wait for a maiden Roland Garros title.

In the aftermath, Sabalenka did not soften her feelings. She told reporters she had no thoughts and no emotions left and felt like quitting on the spot. She described being stuck in a deep, dark mental hole during the match, unable to find her way back.

What Venus Williams said about Sabalenka

Williams reacted with understanding. She admitted the moment made her sad and said she had been swept up in Sabalenka’s emotions, feeling a surge of empathy for her. She praised the Belarusian for laying everything bare on court, where every feeling shows.

Crucially, Williams did not read the comment as a real farewell. She said she did not believe Sabalenka truly wanted to leave, calling such an outcome a loss for both the player and the sport. Rather than scold her, Williams offered a gentle observation about the rhythm of professional tennis. She suggested players might benefit from a little more time to gather themselves before stepping in front of the cameras, a quiet acknowledgment that athletes are routinely asked to dissect painful defeats before the sting has faded.

Sabalenka walks it back

The story did not end on that bleak note. Within days, Sabalenka signaled she was not actually quitting, framing the press-conference outburst as heat-of-the-moment honesty rather than a plan. At the time of the loss she had also left the door open, saying she would see how she felt in a few days and hoped to get back on track mentally. The walk-back lined up with how Williams had read the situation from the start.

It is not the first time a Paris quarterfinal has pushed Sabalenka to her limit. In 2024 she exited at the same stage and skipped her press conference entirely because of illness, with the tour later releasing her quotes on her behalf. The pattern underscores how heavily this particular tournament has weighed on her despite deep runs in recent years.

For now, attention shifts to the grass. Wimbledon offers Sabalenka a quick chance to reset, and a strong showing there would turn this French Open meltdown into a footnote rather than a turning point.

Originally published by Rolling Out — https://rollingout.com.

The post Venus Williams Calls a Sabalenka Exit a Tragedy appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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COMMENTARY: Using Art, Healing, And Community to Transform Mental Health Dialogue

THE CAROLINIAN — Operating at the intersection of the arts and mental health, Darkness RISING uses music, storytelling, wellness programming, and community engagement to inspire healing while addressing barriers that have historically prevented many Black Americans from accessing mental health support.
The post COMMENTARY: Using Art, Healing, And Community to Transform Mental Health Dialogue appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 days ago

June 7, 2026

Oakland Post

By Judaea Ingram | Special to The Carolinian

RALEIGH, N.C. – Music filled the air as families danced through the crowd, children gathered around activity stations, and community members explored wellness resources from local organizations. Black-owned businesses lined the streets while people stopped for chair massages, conversations, and moments of connection inside the wellness suite.

At the center of the event stood a simple but powerful reminder:

“You Matter.”

For Darkness RISING, those words represent far more than a slogan. They reflect the organization’s mission to break the stigma surrounding mental health in the Black community while creating spaces centered on healing, honesty, and hope.

Operating at the intersection of the arts and mental health, Darkness RISING uses music, storytelling, wellness programming, and community engagement to inspire healing while addressing barriers that have historically prevented many Black Americans from accessing mental health support.

The organization hosts a variety of programs and events throughout the year, including block parties, wellness workshops, mixers, kickoff events, community classes, and Darkness RISING: Live — a free annual arts and wellness festival now celebrating its ninth year.

The festival combines entertainment with healing-centered resources, featuring live music, dancing, singing, food trucks, Black vendors, children’s activities, mental health resources, wellness spaces, and opportunities for open conversations about mental health.

While the events may feel celebratory on the surface, organizers say the deeper purpose is creating safe spaces where people can feel comfortable discussing mental health without fear of judgment.

Darkness RISING also provides free nationwide resources, including a Black Mental Health Resource Packet, a Black Mental Health Provider Database, and its “Find Me a Therapist” initiative, which helps connect individuals with culturally competent care.

The organization’s work is rooted in addressing longstanding inequities that continue impacting mental health access within Black communities.

Historically, segregation, redlining, racial discrimination, incarceration, poverty, and unequal healthcare access have contributed to higher rates of behavioral health challenges while simultaneously limiting access to proper treatment and support. Darkness RISING approaches those issues through what organizers describe as a transformative justice lens, focusing on healing rather than punishment and creating equitable wellness opportunities for marginalized communities.

Its REBUILD program specifically supports justice-involved and formerly incarcerated people of color through free therapy and wellness support, while the REBUILD Youth program focuses on young people impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences, also known as ACEs.

For Rudolph, therapy became life-changing after decades of incarceration and years of rejection after returning home.

“Came home in 2015, started my own computer company, investing in real estate, did the normal thing and got some jobs here and there and was met with rejection after rejection and people telling me I am not a good person,” Rudolph shared. “Even had a rejection in church.”

He said one of the hardest battles became overcoming the mental barriers created during incarceration.

“I got in touch with a couple of friends, and they explained to me how I had to get over the mental hurdles and get rid of the way my prison mindset was in order to survive and become successful,” he said.

Rudolph later moved to North Carolina hoping for a fresh start, but the struggle continued.

“Things were looking bad,” he said. “Could not get a job. The struggle was real.”

Eventually, therapy and support through organizations like Darkness RISING helped begin his healing process. He said working alongside other justice-involved men through therapy gave him the ability to rebuild mentally while finding community with people who understood his experiences.

Stories like Rudolph’s reflect the foundation behind Darkness RISING’s mission: ensuring people feel seen, supported, and worthy of healing regardless of their background or circumstances.

Community members who attend the organization’s events often describe them as emotionally transformative.

Some participants say Darkness RISING encouraged them to seek therapy for the first time, while others say the organization gave them a safe space to openly discuss struggles they previously kept hidden.

“I have been encouraged by the beautiful, generous, brave and open individuals who come together and use their talents to create art, share personal experiences and provide hope to those who may be struggling with mental health,” one participant shared.

By combining art, wellness, education, and community outreach, Darkness RISING continues changing how mental health conversations happen within the Black community.

Not through silence.

But through healing, honesty, connection, and joy.

Originally published by The Carolinian — https://caro.news.

The post COMMENTARY: Using Art, Healing, And Community to Transform Mental Health Dialogue appeared first on BlackPressUSA.