Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault which some readers may find distressing.
One man who alleges he was abused by Michael Jackson has spoken publicly, describing what he says were shocking and unusual acts the singer used to show affection and “prove” love.
In an interview with 60 Minutes Australia, Dominic Cascio gave an account of the alleged abuse he says he experienced involving the late star, who died in 2009.
Cascio claimed that alongside the attention and generosity directed at him and his family—things he said would normally have been far beyond his reach—there was what he described as an underlying pattern of grooming and abuse.
He said their connection began in the mid-1980s, after Jackson struck up a friendship with hotel manager Dominic Cascio Snr, and that the singer later described the Cascios as his “second family”.
According to Cascio, Jackson spent time in their New Jersey home, brought them along while touring, invited them to the Neverland Ranch, and socialised with them on holidays.
The Cascios had previously defended Jackson when other allegations surfaced, but members of the family are now presenting a very different version of events.
Dominic said to 60 Minutes: “There was the shopping sprees, there was the amusement park, there was the gifts, like all this stuff, but it’s almost like they were tied together, you know, the abuse was tied to to all that good stuff.”
He also alleged that Jackson would ‘masturbate him’ and perform ‘oral sex’ on him, claiming Jackson framed it as a “special bond” reserved only for “people that he loved”.
Dominic then described what he said was one of the most disturbing ways Jackson tried to demonstrate affection.
He continued: He did many things to prove that [he loved me]. One of the things he did was he would drink my urine and tell me that this is how much I love you.
“I’m maybe 12 years old at the time, still a child and I’m seeing this man do this and I’m thinking, ‘I guess he really does love me’. I’d never want to drink someone’s urine, so he must really love me.”
The Cascio siblings—Dominic, Edward, Marie-Nicole and Aldo—said Jackson formed a close-knit group referred to as “The Applehead Club”. Edward alleged the abuse began during Jackson’s 1993 tour, when Edward said he was 11.
Edward further claimed that by age 16, Jackson was “penetrating him”. Marie-Nicole also alleged Jackson would masturbate as she removed her clothes, and said she later came to see the behaviour as “normal”.
Aldo, the youngest sibling, alleged Jackson molested him while he was in bed playing video games.
Dominic also claimed Jackson engaged in what he called “disturbing games”, including one referred to as the “booty rumble”, which he described as Jackson lying on top of him with their genitals touching before shaking.
The siblings alleged incidents occurred at the Neverland Ranch, in hotels internationally, and even within their family home without their parents’ knowledge.
In a statement to 60 Minutes Australia, Marty Singer, the lawyer acting for the estate of Jackson, said: “This lawsuit is a desperate money grab by additional members of the Cascio family who have hopped on the bandwagon with their brother Frank who is already being sued in arbitration for civil extortion…”
“…Notably these shakedown attempts come more than 15 years after Michael’s death, thus carrying no risk of being sued for defamation. Sadly, in death, just as life Michael’s talents and success continue to make him a target.”
Singer also pointed to the family’s previous public defence of Jackson, including a 2010 interview with Oprah in which the siblings said there were “never any improprieties” between them and the singer.
During his lifetime, Jackson denied all allegations of sexual abuse. He died in 2009.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues or want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and receives calls from throughout the United States, Canada, US Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico.