Janet Jackson Emerges as Mother Figure
Janet Jackson, 43, wants to raise Michael Jackson's three children and has the endorsement of a spiritual adviser to the star. Rev June Gatlin, who saw Jacko regularly, said: "If anything happened with his mother he wanted Janet to have his children.
Michael loved his sister, he trusted Janet explicitly." Michael has left his mother, Katherine, 79, guardian of Prince Michael, I, 12, Paris Katherine, 11 and Blanket, seven, in his will. In her stead, he has named pop singer Diana Ross, 65, a close friend and mentor to him from childhood. But since his death, Janet has emerged as a major force in the children's care. Her love for Paris was on show to the world during the touching memorial service at the Staples Center. Michael's spiritual adviser says the star wanted his younger sister to take care of the children if Katherine or Ross could not.
A family insider said: "Janet has said, 'I love them and I'll step forward and raise them if this is what they want.' She tells everyone she loves them as if they were her own. The children have chosen her as their confidante and mother figure, and Janet feels her place is at their side. "She's completely bonded with those children in the last two weeks. It's clear to everyone that they are looking to her for comfort and guidance. Janet is blossoming as a woman with tremendous maternal instincts." Whether or not the mother of Prince Michael I and Paris, Debbie Rowe, steps up to claim them through legal channels remains to be seen. A California custody hearing for them has been put back to August. Katherine, meanwhile, has been granted temporary custody of the three children.
Provided by: Philippa Bourke / Splash News
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