Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ Hits a Huge Sales Milestone Amid New Abuse Allegations
In February, four siblings filed a lawsuit against Michael Jackson in which they made allegations of sexual abuse. Their case gained new attention after they gave a lengthy interview about the alleged abuse. This comes amid the massive box office success of the biopic Michael, as well as a new sales milestone for Jackson’s Thriller.
‘Thriller’ has spent 500 weeks on the Top Album Sales Chart
Jackson’s 1982 album Thriller is the best-selling album of all time. It seems that the biopic Michael has boosted sales even further.
This week, Thriller jumped from No. 48 to No. 7 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart. Purchases on CD, cassette, vinyl, or digital download sites count towards this total. Thriller will also celebrate 500 weeks on the chart.
Per Forbes, the only other albums to pass the 500-week mark are Bob Marley and the Wailers’ Legend: The Best of Bob Marley and the Wailers, Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Chronicle, and Nirvana’s Nevermind.
Michael Jackson faces renewed allegations of abuse
While Jackson’s music continues to rack up sales and streams, his personal life has fallen under renewed scrutiny. Michael does not address the multiple allegations of child sexual abuse against Jackson, but a lawsuit is drawing attention to them.
The Cascio family, who became something of a second family to Jackson, accused him of molestation over the course of years.
“Michael Jackson was a serial child predator who, over the course of more than a decade, drugged, raped, and sexually assaulted each of the Plaintiffs, beginning when some of them were as young as seven or eight. Jackson’s attacks on these siblings went on for extended periods, including in locations around the world and when Jackson and his children were guests in Plaintiffs’ family home,” the complaint states, per Variety. “Jackson groomed and brainwashed each Plaintiff, without the knowledge of the others or their parents, throughout their childhood years.”
The four siblings accused Jackson of giving them drugs and alcohol, and showing them child pornography. They also say he manipulated them into believing he could ruin their lives if they said anything.
The Jackson estate initially reached a settlement with the family in 2019.
Michael Jackson’s estate denied the allegations of abuse
Jackson’s estate has denied the allegations made by the Cascio siblings.
“This lawsuit is a desperate money grab by additional members of the Cascio family,” attorney Martin Singer said. “The family staunchly defended Michael Jackson for more than 25 years, attesting to his innocence of inappropriate conduct. This new court filing is a transparent forum-shopping tactic in their scheme to obtain hundreds of millions of dollars from Michael’s estate and companies.”
He noted that the family previously defended Jackson. They now say that this was because he groomed them to do so.
“The Cascios spent decades defending and affirming Michael’s innocence,” Singer said. “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 in life, Michael’s talents and success continue to make him a target.”
How to get help: In the U.S., call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to connect with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.
