An attorney for Michael Jackson’s ex-wife Debbie Rowe on Tuesday angrily denied a New York Post report that she had agreed to take millions of dollars to give up parental rights to her two children with the entertainer.
In a letter to the New York Post, attorney Eric George said that Rowe, who was married to Michael Jackson from 1996 to 1999 and is the mother of his two oldest children, "has not and will not" give up her parental rights, according to Reuters.
Nor will Rowe, whose attorneys have been in talks with lawyers for Michael Jackson’s parents, Katherine and Joe, take any money beyond the spousal support to which she and the singer agreed upon years ago, George’s letter states.
In a 2002 will signed by Michael Jackson, he said he had "intentionally omitted" to provide for Rowe.
The New York Post reported Tuesday that Rowe had agreed to take about $4 million to give up her parental rights to children Prince Michael Jr., 12, and Paris, 11.
George has asked the newspaper to publish a retraction. In a statement, New York Post editor in chief Col Allan said, "The Post stands by its story."
Katherine Jackson, 79, was granted temporary guardianship of her son’s three children on June 29, only days after the "Thriller" singer died. George’s letter states that no agreement has been reached between Rowe and the Jacksons on custody or visitation.
Rowe in 2001 sought to give up parental rights to her children, but she later went to court to contest her waiver of those rights and it never went into effect. A custody hearing on Jackson’s three children is set for this coming Monday.
