BY PAULA SCHWARTZ

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Yesterday Jermaine Jackson, “the fourth child of the music dynasty” as he describes himself, posted a long tweet that showed the toll the Jackson family feud has taken on him and his family. In his tweet he says he is extending an olive branch to the part of his family with whom he has squabbled. He may also, unlike Randy, have gotten a reality check and realized how public opinion has turned against him and his siblings who have been working to overturn Michael’s 2002 will. Then there’s the fact he is touring with some his brothers and all this can only be a distraction. For whatever reason, Jermaine’s tone has changed and this is yesterday’s tweet in full:
“Yesterday, I had a phone call with my son Jaafar that broke my heart. He asked: "Is it true that we cannot visit grandmother's house as a family anymore?" Enough has become enough... After much soul-searching, it is clearly time for us to live by Michael's words about love not war. In this spirit, I offer this statement by way of extending an olive-branch. Accordingly, I rescind my signature from the letter which was sent to the Estate, and which should never have gone public.   I still hold deep reservations about many issues involving the Estate, and I will continue to bring scrutiny and a resolute voice wherever we have cause for concern. But the way to address such matters is through the proper channels and via a private dialogue, not public conflict. “

“Whatever the tabloid and on-line misrepresentations have led people to believe, my primary concern has only ever been rooted in the welfare of our mother in the environment where she lives. No-one on the outside has a clue about the stresses and pressures she has been under long before recent events and I, like everyone in the family, adore the ground she walks on. We are also still raw from the loss of Michael three years ago. The ever-present grief has haunted me with questions about whether we stepped off him too much or whether we did enough to help when a corporate world surrounded him. So when it comes to the well-being of loved ones, and especially our mother, we are perhaps understandably and unapologetically over-protective.”

“As attorney Perry Sanders has since confirmed, a health check detected high blood pressure with Mother. Rest was the sole reason she went to Arizona. Prince even carried her bags down the stairs and urged her to rest-up, because we all come from the same caring place. When she was away, and with the children in the responsible care of Tito's son TJ, there was never a malicious attempt to "block" the kids from talking with her. We simply worried that a call home would first entail, or lead to, conversations with individuals we are in dispute with and that would, therefore, increase pressure on Mother -- and pressure was what a doctor said she didn't need. This was why we went to the house in Calabasas to talk directly with the kids and merely discuss arrangements for them to meet with their grandmother. We were denied that access by security -- and it was clear that mutual suspicions had allowed events to spiral out of control. I regret that events were ever allowed to reach such a stage. I regret any distress caused to Prince, Paris and Blanket. That was never, ever the intention of myself, Janet, Rebbie or Randy.”“Moving forward, the most effective way to best serve Mother's welfare, and that of Michael's children, is to start a collective dialogue, in private. Mistakes have been made and irrational things have been said on both sides in a highly-charged emotional environment. It is time for us all to draw a line in the sand and move towards peace, co-operation, love and healing. I truly hope that we can find it in our hearts to do so. Because above and beyond anything else, what matters...is family.”

Yesterday we received e-mails from Charles Shultz, TJ Jackson’s attorney. Katherine Jackson had been suspended temporarily as guardian of the children.  But Mr. Shultz wrote in his e-mail that they have filed a pleading to Judge Beckloff: “The pleading is a joint filing promised by Perry Sanders (Katherine Jackson’s lawyer) seeking reinstatement of Mrs. Jackson and keeping tj as a co-guardian.” Mr. Shultz also wrote us, “As you may be aware, I do not issue statements while matters are before Judge Beckloff. What I can do is direct you to Judge Beckloff’s ruling from July 25, 2012. That order controls and is being followed, unless and until the court orders something different. I can tell you that the letter given to the security is in compliance with Judge Beckloff’s order and is not arbitrary. As for the family members who are on that list, they were either at the house on Monday, July 23, 2012 or in somewhat participated in the events surrounding that date.”

The barred members to the Calabasas home that Katherine shares with Blanket, Prince and Prince, include Michael Jackson siblings Jermaine, Randy, Janet and Rebbie, who tried to enter the grounds and which led to a scuffle with the home’s security forces, including Trent Jackson. Mr. Shultz also wrote in his e-mail to me that, “Mrs. Jackson is completely free to talk to whomever she chooses and is free to come and go from the house with anyone whom she chooses.”

Mr. Shultz continued in his e-mail to say that “the decision was not made by the estate, it was made in consultation with security personal at the house. While everyone would like to move past what happened on July 23, 2012, the fact remains that various people arrived at the house on July 23, 2012, and made the children (Paris, Blanket, Prince) very uncomfortable and security very concerned for their welfare. The amount of people who showed up on July 23, 2012 almost overwhelmed the security. Their professionalism and dedication, as well as the extraordinary efforts of Mrs. Jackson’s assistant, Trent, prevented the incident from escalating. They felt they could not afford to risk another such incident.”

“The letter was requested by security from the Estate representatives. The security personnel requested the letter so they could give it to guards of the gated community. Had the incident on Monday, July 23, 2012 not occurred, the letter would not have been necessary."

”Mr. Shultz said the filing to Judge Beckloff  “really is to reinstate her (Katherine Jackson) and request the court to change decisions previously ordered to be vested in TJ alone to a joint decision of TJ and Mrs. Jackson.”

He added, “As to the "letter", we will not be asking the court for authority to bar any individual person.  In addition, we are requesting the court to modify the order so that decisions in this regard will also be joint. It will be in the papers.  We need to balance security's concerns against the ability of family members to see Mrs. Jackson.  Mrs. Jackson is and has always been free to come and go as she pleases.”

As to why La Toya was not barred from the estate, Mr. Shultz said because she wasn’t involved in the July 23 “melee, not even in the background.” He added,“The list was really compiled with consultation from security and addressed their concerns for the safety of Prince, Paris and Blanket.  As to Joe (who was barred from entering the grounds), I cannot speculate.

“Also, as to why La Toya Jackson, usually known as the zaniest of the bunch, has remained so quiet and therefore not involved in the “melee,” it could be because she is headed for her own reality show on Oprah’s channel OWN and is trying to keep a low profile until then.