In the premiere of La Toya Jackson's brand new OWN reality series, "Life With La Toya," the 56-year-old socialite tackled many subjects, including last summer's "Granny-gate" drama, in which several family members were accused of kidnapping matriarch Katherine Jackson, holding her against her will as they wrestled for control of the late King of Pop's $1 billion estate.
"The truth is, they did kidnap [my mother]," La Toya Jackson said in the first episode of her show. "And we had to keep asking, 'Where is she? Where is she? Where is she?' Begging and begging them, and nobody would let us speak to her."
Katherine Jackson was out of touch with her grandchildren Prince, Paris and Blanket Jackson for almost two weeks in July 2012, leading to a missing-person report and the suspension of her guardianship of Michael Jackson's children, whom she has raised since their father's death four years ago. (A judge later reinstated her as co-guardian along with T.J. Jackson, son of Tito.)
The 82-year-old family matriarch stated in an affidavit that she had been whisked out-of-state under false pretenses by several of her children (including Randy, Jermaine, Janet and Rebbie Jackson), who then disabled all means of communication and "prevented" her from speaking to her concerned grandchildren and attorneys.
It was during this turbulent period that Randy, Jermaine, Janet and Rebbie Jackson also sent a letter to the media, in which they accused their brother Michael's estate executors of abusing their mother, "heartlessly [pursuing] wealth, fame and power ... at the expense of our family," and, more importantly, forging the late King of Pop's will. The siblings called for co-executors John Branca and John McClain to resign.
The Michael Jackson estate immediately responded that they were "saddened" by the "false and defamatory accusations" by those whom "[Michael] chose to leave out of his will." Jim Bates, an estate spokesman, added: "Any doubts about the validity of Michael's will and his selection of executors were thoroughly and completely debunked two years ago when a challenge was rejected by the Los Angeles County Superior Court, the California Court of Appeals and, finally, the California Supreme Court."
On July 26, 2012, after a week of increasing media scrutiny and even more family drama (including a physical altercation between several family members and a visit from the L.A. Sheriff's department)... Katherine Jackson was finally returned home. Only then did she learn the full details of what had been happening in the worldwide news media from Prince, Paris and Blanket.
"Although I am happy my grandma was returned, after speaking with her I realized how misguided and how badly she was lied to," Prince Jackson tweeted that morning. "I'm really angry and hurt."
The children's new co-guardian, T.J. Jackson, subsequently received Katherine Jackson's consent in banning Randy, Jermaine, Janet and Rebbie Jackson from entering the matriarch's Calabasas, California "residence or its grounds."
While La Toya Jackson assured viewers of her TV show that her mother is "safe" now, she admitted that the family in-fighting has only "gotten worse."
"I don't get involved in spats amongst family. I stay away from that. ... I don't like confrontations when it comes to that. It's sad to me," she said. "I think that I've gone through enough of that in my past, so that's why I don't understand why people can't get along. I love my family, but it's not easy."
Jackson added that "ever since the kidnapping situation, it's so important for me to make sure that Mother's okay. That's first priority."
Source
_____________________________________________________
La Toya Jackson on sister Janet Jackson's wedding: "I heard about it through the media"
Janet Jackson is a master of secrecy.
The public was not alone in its surprise that she married her Qatari billionaire boyfriend, Wissam Al Mana. Her family was also stunned to hear the news, according to Global Grind.
In fact, most of the Jackson clan became aware of Janet’s nuptials when the media revealed it to the rest of the world.
"I didn’t know Jan was married until I heard about it through the media," La Toya Jackson said during a private screening for her new OWN-network reality show. "It's true! Most of the family members -- no one really knew. Not at all."
The socialite added that she has never met her new brother-in-law.
Janet Jackson, 46, and Al Mana, 37, revealed to "Entertainment Tonight" in February that they had already gotten married last year after rumors spread of an impending wedding.
"The rumors regarding an extravagant wedding are simply not true," the duo told "ET" in a joint statement. "Last year we were married in a quiet, private and beautiful ceremony."
While this may have come as a shock to the rest of the Jackson family, La Toya reassures that "everything is fine," but confirmed that "most of the siblings ... Nobody knew!"
Sources - 1, 2
(It's truly sad how divided this family is. x_X )