Jackson Parents Join Son's Defense
Dec. 11 -- Michael Jackson's parents are joining their son's defense, saying the child molestation charges leveled against the pop star are false, and promising to adopt his children should he lose custody of them.
"We're not going to let nobody take those kids," Joe Jackson said in an interview airing Monday on Britain's ITV network. "They're Michael's kids. They has no right to try to take those kids."
Watch exclusive excerpts from the British documentary on this Friday's 20/20.
Jackson has two children, Prince Michael I, 6, and Paris, 5, from his three-year marriage to Debbie Rowe. His third child, Prince Michael II, was born to an unidentified woman in 2002. The singer's own parents are worried that authorities may try to take away the children.
"It's going to be a big mess over that," said Jackson's mother, Katherine, adding, "I don't want to think that, because that would be really mean — just take his children from him like that for nothing. It's not right. They're just trying to humiliate him."
In the interview, Katherine Jackson told journalist Daphne Barak her son would be devastated if he were to lose custody of his children, but said she would be "right there" to adopt them if he did.
"They're my grandkids. I have to," Jackson's father added.
‘Don't Worry, It's Not the Truth’
The Jacksons say Michael reacted calmly when the initial news of the allegation and charges broke, and has remained strong through the media firestorm fueled by the accusation.
"You know he was strong," said Katherine Jackson. "He said, 'Mother, don't worry, it's not the truth.' But I told him you don't know these wicked people, the people are just mean and wicked. I know it's not the truth, but they'll tarnish your reputation. … It's just sad the way they're doing him and it's not right. He's stronger than I am about it."
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