Paris Jackson accuses Michael Jackson estate executors of 'mocking and belittling' her in court: Inside the legal battle
ETimes | April 9, 2026 5:39 PM CST
Paris Jackson’s legal battle with the people running her dad’s estate isn't just about money anymore; it’s personal, messy, and playing out in public. She says the executors, John Branca and John McClain, keep using court filings and media spin to make her look bad, turning what started as a financial dispute into something way uglier.
Paris Jackson’s allegations: What she saidPer People, in early April 2026, Paris filed a fresh legal complaint. She accused Branca and McClain of using their power, not just in court, but in the press, to attack her. The way she puts it, every time she tries to raise real concerns, the executors dismiss her, saying she's either just following her lawyers or chasing media attention. Paris says that’s nonsense. For her, all this litigation is exhausting and painful. It’s pulling her away from her life and career.
She’s not alone in this fight. Paris, along with her brothers Prince and Bigi, is the main beneficiary of Michael Jackson’s estate. She claims Branca and McClain are abusing their positions, supposedly pocketing more money than they should. They deny every bit of it.
This new filing was Paris’s answer to a massive 83-page report the executors filed earlier in the month. That report talked about a court hearing from March, where Paris’s legal team apparently backed out of a deal at the last minute.
The real fight right now? It’s about when the executors need to hand over the estate’s annual financial reports. Paris wants a process that’s clear and honest. She says Branca and McClain keep her in the dark.
Paris also called out the executors for using the press to take shots at her. She pointed to a comment from their attorney, Jonathan Steinsapir, who allegedly said Paris was “strutting” into a court hearing, a remark she calls sexist and patronizing. The executors, she says, even described themselves as the “grown-ups,” basically painting Paris and her siblings as kids, which is just insulting.
She argues these attacks aren’t about the actual case; they’re just Branca’s way of trying to intimidate her. And she’s not having it. She says it’s even worse because her father’s money is being spent on these legal attacks.
Steinsapir fired back in a statement to the same outlet, accusing Paris and her lawyers of abusing the courts and making false claims to distract from their own legal losses. He says most of Paris’s complaints have either been approved in previous court decisions or are based on misleading information. For the record, he insists the estate hasn’t given out gifts to anyone. He also points out that Paris has already received $65 million in benefits and stands to inherit hundreds of millions more.
Paris says she tried to work with the executors to set up a simple, fair system for payments, but hit roadblocks every time. It’s worth remembering that when Michael died in 2009, he was more than USD 500 million in debt. The executors claim they turned things around, making the estate a powerhouse in the music business.
However, Paris isn’t convinced. She says in court documents that in 2021 alone, Branca and McClain took home over USD 10 million in compensation, more than twice what any family beneficiary got from the estate allowance. And the legal fees keep piling up. Just in January, the executors’ attorneys told the judge they were owed USD 115,000 in costs and fees. Their anti-SLAPP motion against Paris got approved back in November.
Who is Paris Jackson?Paris Jackson was born in 1998 and is Michael Jackson’s only daughter (one of his three kids, alongside her brothers Prince and Bigi). Growing up, she lived in a world obsessed with her last name, though her early years were mostly hidden from the cameras. Everything changed after Michael died in 2009. Media attention followed her everywhere, and Paris had to find her own way in the public eye while dealing with the loss and the immense pressure that came with her family legacy.
Over time, Paris built a reputation that goes beyond just being Michael Jackson’s daughter. She’s a model, an actress, and a musician. Her sound leans towards alternative rock, and her style caught the eye of big-name brands and designers. Paris has appeared in indie films and on TV, but it’s her music that really shows who she is. Her songs dive into her personal struggles, like identity, trauma, and trying to heal. Apart from her art, she hasn’t shied away from talking about her mental health battles and her fight with addiction as well.
Paris Jackson’s allegations: What she saidPer People, in early April 2026, Paris filed a fresh legal complaint. She accused Branca and McClain of using their power, not just in court, but in the press, to attack her. The way she puts it, every time she tries to raise real concerns, the executors dismiss her, saying she's either just following her lawyers or chasing media attention. Paris says that’s nonsense. For her, all this litigation is exhausting and painful. It’s pulling her away from her life and career.
She’s not alone in this fight. Paris, along with her brothers Prince and Bigi, is the main beneficiary of Michael Jackson’s estate. She claims Branca and McClain are abusing their positions, supposedly pocketing more money than they should. They deny every bit of it.
This new filing was Paris’s answer to a massive 83-page report the executors filed earlier in the month. That report talked about a court hearing from March, where Paris’s legal team apparently backed out of a deal at the last minute.
The real fight right now? It’s about when the executors need to hand over the estate’s annual financial reports. Paris wants a process that’s clear and honest. She says Branca and McClain keep her in the dark.
Paris also called out the executors for using the press to take shots at her. She pointed to a comment from their attorney, Jonathan Steinsapir, who allegedly said Paris was “strutting” into a court hearing, a remark she calls sexist and patronizing. The executors, she says, even described themselves as the “grown-ups,” basically painting Paris and her siblings as kids, which is just insulting.
She argues these attacks aren’t about the actual case; they’re just Branca’s way of trying to intimidate her. And she’s not having it. She says it’s even worse because her father’s money is being spent on these legal attacks.
Steinsapir fired back in a statement to the same outlet, accusing Paris and her lawyers of abusing the courts and making false claims to distract from their own legal losses. He says most of Paris’s complaints have either been approved in previous court decisions or are based on misleading information. For the record, he insists the estate hasn’t given out gifts to anyone. He also points out that Paris has already received $65 million in benefits and stands to inherit hundreds of millions more.
Paris says she tried to work with the executors to set up a simple, fair system for payments, but hit roadblocks every time. It’s worth remembering that when Michael died in 2009, he was more than USD 500 million in debt. The executors claim they turned things around, making the estate a powerhouse in the music business.
However, Paris isn’t convinced. She says in court documents that in 2021 alone, Branca and McClain took home over USD 10 million in compensation, more than twice what any family beneficiary got from the estate allowance. And the legal fees keep piling up. Just in January, the executors’ attorneys told the judge they were owed USD 115,000 in costs and fees. Their anti-SLAPP motion against Paris got approved back in November.
Who is Paris Jackson?Paris Jackson was born in 1998 and is Michael Jackson’s only daughter (one of his three kids, alongside her brothers Prince and Bigi). Growing up, she lived in a world obsessed with her last name, though her early years were mostly hidden from the cameras. Everything changed after Michael died in 2009. Media attention followed her everywhere, and Paris had to find her own way in the public eye while dealing with the loss and the immense pressure that came with her family legacy.
Over time, Paris built a reputation that goes beyond just being Michael Jackson’s daughter. She’s a model, an actress, and a musician. Her sound leans towards alternative rock, and her style caught the eye of big-name brands and designers. Paris has appeared in indie films and on TV, but it’s her music that really shows who she is. Her songs dive into her personal struggles, like identity, trauma, and trying to heal. Apart from her art, she hasn’t shied away from talking about her mental health battles and her fight with addiction as well.
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