Jackson Kids' Godfather: I Believe Paris Is My Daughter

By PopEater Staff Posted Aug 9th 2009 10:33AM

A British tabloid reported Saturday that the godfather of Michael Jackson's three children claims to be the father of the singer's daughter Paris. The News of the World quotes Jackson's longtime friend Mark Lester as saying that he "gave Michael my sperm so that he could have kids -- and I believe Paris is my daughter."

The newspaper also quotes Lester, is a 51-year-old former child star known for his lead role in the 1968 movie version of the state show "Oliver!" as saying he's willing to take a paternity test.

In a video interview Lester said he donated his sperm at a London clinic. He said Jackson was married to Debbie Rowe at the time. "She's the birth mother of the children so I naturally assumed the sperm donation would obviously have gone into Debbie and Debbie would have borne the children," he said.

"It's been a secret for so long," Lester said. "In 1996 Michael asked me if I would give him my sperm and I said yes. It was a gift to him, no money was paid, it was something I was honored to do. He wanted children so badly."

"I'm the godparent to them and Michael was godparent to all my four kids. Our two families spent a lot of time together, and had a lot fun together. Now I'm not able to have any communication with the children. My repeated phone calls aren't returned and emails go unanswered."

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=680563&pid=680562&uts=1249921293

http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/music/?s_channel=us.musicpop&s_account=aolnews,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1

http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

Memorable Michael Moments

Kisses, pajama pants, mysterious bandages, scary baby moments and more make up classic snapshots of the King of Pop. See Them Now >>>

WireImage

Memorable Michael Moments

Michael Jackson starred as the Scarecrow in the 1978 film 'The Wiz.'

Tom Zimberoff, Getty Images

Oprah Winfrey interviewed Jackson in February of 1993.

Time showed off an Andy Warhol portrait on a 1984 cover at the height of his 'Thriller' popularity.

Time & Life Pictures / Getty Images

Michael Jackson is photographed with Brooke Shields in 1988.

Ron Galella, WireImage

Michael Jackson hit the court with Michael Jordan during the video shoot for 'Jam' in 1992.

FOX / AP

Jackson attends a Pepsi press conference on February 3, 1992. Jackson accepted the largest individual sponsorship deal in history from Pepsi-Cola in 1983.

Steve Allen, Liaison / Getty Images

Jackson performs during the halftime show at the Super Bowl XXVII in Pasadena in 1993. The halftime show was a ratings smash.

Rusty Kennedy, AP

Jackson and his wife Lisa Marie Presley kiss on the stage of Radio City Music Hall at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards. "And they said he wouldn't last," Jackson joked.

AFP / Getty Images

Wearing a black surgical mask, Jackson arrives with companion Debbie Rowe, mother to two of his children, at a performance of the play "Sisterella" in 1996.

Chris Pizzello, AP

Michael Jackson with baby son Prince and mother Debbie Rowe on cover of OK! Magazine in 1997.

OK! Magazine / AP

"It's a contact issue," he said on the video. "I dearly want to remain in contact with those kids and I feel now this is the only way I can ensure that."

Uri Geller, a close friend of Jackson's, said during a GMTV interview: "I have no reason to doubt Mark's story, simply because I remember years ago in New York, Michael implied to me that he wanted Mark to help him father a child for him."

Other reports indicate that Lester's words were misintrerpreted though, PEOPLE reports. "They twisted his words around. He's not claiming to be the father of Paris Jackson," says one close family source.

Jackson family attorney Londell McMillan adds that the story is just another unproven and meaningless claim, and the probate court has no reason to go against its finding that the late King of Pop is father to all three of his kids.

"These are just merely claims with no legal standing whatsoever," McMillan said.

Tags: michael jackson, MichaelJackson, paris jackson, ParisJackson

Comments

(597)

Sunday 09 August

By house

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

well if he is the father than who is the mother? Paris could not be the child of Mr. Lester and Ms.
Rowe. impossible!

By judi

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Why is that impossible? Debbie Rowe gave birth and was impregnated with someone's sperm. Those kids are white, obviously not Michael's.

By alyce

Vote down Vote up Report this

why?

By sam

alice, fyi..........
Micheal wasn't white, at least not genetically.

By Tina

How is that impossible. Those children are not "mixed" at all. Whoever thinks that is being delusional. Michael was very black and broad-nosed when he was a child, these traits are still able to be passed down. He was the still rightfully the father of these children, just not biologically and I don't think this "Lester" even if proven, should have ANY say, involvment in this case. That will just open up a can of worms for all "DONORS". Leave it alone!

Tuesday 11 August

By Deb

do the DNA, Michael may have lightened his skin, but he could not lighten his DNA.

Show Me

Monday 10 August

By ct

read the article again. nothing is impossible. do u really think Michael Jackson fathered the kids?

By anonymous

That can not be true! There is no way that that guy could be Paris's father! If he was, he probably would of claimed to be it earlier!

By howard

Well, it's obvious Michael Jackson is N-O-T the father. None of the kids have very distinctive African features.

By Carolyn

Remind me again why Michael could not father his own children??? Was there a problem with his sperm???

By skar

who cares if he is the biological father or not point is that he was there for them and took care of them all the other ppl claiming things just want money or else they wouldve came out sayin somethin years ago

Thursday 13 August

By joel

why could thos kids not be michaels? for example chuck noris and jessica biel are half white and half native american..camron diaz is half german and half cuban my point is they look white but they are mixed.

By jules

The similary is so there, and I'm sure when Paris is of age she will want to know who her father is, even though she loves the Jackson family and they will reject any test on the children for whatever reason. It's always ashame how the innocent children are always hurt in deaths of a spouse(s) and or divorce mainly out of spite & greed. We can only pray that the adults will grow up and stop thinking of themselves,for once. Love isn't hurting our children....

Tuesday 18 August

By Cecilia

And to now mention this,while Michael isn't here to reply to ....!What kind of friend is he if this is true?and I feel for Paris and the others,because if everyone was hounding there Father,Who said they will stop Now? And Paris has a olive complextion,so I donot think Debbie Rowe,is the true Mother. From Cat.

By Inkling

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I thought it was determined that Rowe was not the true mother but had a fertilized egg implanted in her.

By Natari30

DNA is a funny thing.......Mariah Carey is mixed and she looks very white! Stop looking at skin tone...it is more than that!

Henry Louis Gates has more white DNA than black and he is clearly a black man! Get with the times people!

By Alekos Yennaris

Godfather never fails...I love that guy, he wants his daughter to be with him...that's true love for a father...:D GL TO YOU SIR!

By Stacey

Of course he could be the father. He donated sperm which was used to impregnate Ms. Rowe. It had to be someone's sperm.....could be anyone's.

By Jbirdee

I think she sort of looks like Debbie Rowe and I see the coloring could fit with MJ? I don't know, I just don't see why she could not be their child?

By FFXICosmos

Of COURSE he could, and I believe he IS. Artificial insemination mean anything to you, or are you still living in the dark ages? LOL. I believe the court should allow a paternity test, ESPECIALLY since Mark Lester is already the child's Godfather by Jackson's choice and had a significant relationship with all the children, and is not looking for money. He is a supreme talent in his own right and he makes absolute sense as a possible father to Paris. She should be so lucky, given it would give her a pass on the wacked out Jackson genetics.

Page 1 of 30