Trigger Warning: This article contains references to sexual assault and rape.Jermaine Jackson, brother of the late pop icon Michael Jackson, is receiving legal notice after he breached a lawsuit’s requirement to respond.
As a default judgment from a Los Angeles court, the 71-year-old singer was ordered to pay US$6.5 million to Rita Butler Barrett, who sued him alleging sexual assault.
Jermaine Jackson is facing legal trouble after being accused of sexual assault
The formal complaint was filed in December 2023, when Barrett reportedly accused Jackson of committing violent sexual assaults in the spring of 1988, by forcefully entering her home. After failing to concede to the lawsuit, Jackson must pay millions of dollars in damages and costs, according to People magazine.According to the complaint, she knew the Jackson 5 singer through professional and personal relationships through her husband, Ben Barrett, and worked closely with Berry Gordy, the founder of the famous record label. Furthermore, Barrett stated that she feared for her life and claimed that he left after feeling “full.” “During the assault, the plaintiff, a woman of faith, prayed to God for help,” the complaint asserted, adding: “During the assault, the plaintiff feared for her life.”
Barrett claimed she detailed the incident to Gordie, Jackson’s former brother-in-law, but he withheld the information to maintain profits and protect his image. Barrett claimed it was a “cover-up” and stressed that she “suffered severe emotional, physical and psychological injury, including humiliation, shame, guilt, economic loss, economic viability and lasting emotional distress.”
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About Jermaine Jackson
Jermaine Jackson, father of the star of the Michael biopic, Jaafar Jackson, married Hazel Gordy in 1973, five years after signing a record deal with her brother’s label. According to Entertainment Weekly, she filed for divorce in November 1987 because he had a child with another woman.Disclaimer: If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, assault or abuse, please seek immediate help. Contact a mental health professional, NGO, or trusted person. Many helplines are available to provide assistance.