EXCLUSIVE: Godfather of Michael Jackson’s Kids Says “I’m Not Pushing For Any DNA Tests”
Sep. 24 2009, Published 5:54 a.m. ET
Mark Lester, the British godfather of Michael Jackson kids, got caught in the middle of a media firestorm after he told a British newspaper that he had donated sperm to the superstar and that he believed that Paris Jackson was his daughter. The Jackson family lawyer Londell McMillan reacted angrily to the reports, claiming they had no legal standing.
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Lester spoke to RadarOnline.com exclusively to clear the air and confirms he is still close with the family.
“Look, I’m not pushing for any DNA tests. The family has been under enough pressure since Michael died and I just want things to settle down,” he said. “Contrary to reports I was invited to his funeral recently but I couldn’t go for business reasons and hopefully I will be able to fly over at Christmas time and pay my respects privately.”
In fact, he speaks regularly to at least one Jackson family member: “I’m still in touch with Randy Jackson who I have known for a very long time and we both respect one another. To suggest that there is a rift between myself and the Jackson family is just not true.”
Godfather breaks Silence About Jackson's Kids
Lester claims that his comments to the newspaper were “spun a lot.” “It’s true that I donated sperm to Michael but he was those kids father and anything else biologically is immaterial really,” he added.
The birth mother of the two eldest children is former nurse Debbie Rowe, and the youngest, who is known as "Blanket", was conceived by a surrogate whose identity has not yet been revealed.
“The last time I spoke with the family I was told that Michael’s kids were doing really well and that is the most important thing to me,” Lester said. “They are really lovely children and I hope that I can play a part in their lives in the future and they can get to know my own kids too.”