Four siblings claim to have been victims of sexual abuse and manipulation by Michael Jackson

BarcelonaMichael Jackson's heirs are facing a lawsuit from the four Cascio brothers, who claim they were victims of sexual abuse and manipulation. As the Cascios explained to The New York Times, Michael Jackson deceived them when they were minors and subjected them to a brainwashing process.

The lawsuit was filed in February in a Los Angeles court, although it has only recently become public following an interview that the Cascio family, originally from New Jersey, granted to The New York Times, just as "Michael", the biographical film about the "

Thriller

" album's author produced by the Jackson family, has premiered. The Cascios explain that they maintained "a complex relationship" with Michael Jackson, during which "situations of vulnerability and inappropriate intimate conduct" allegedly occurred. As stated in the lawsuit, the alleged abuses took place in various locations, one of which was the artist's home.

For many years, the Cascios believed that the nature of that relationship was inappropriate, but, as they explain, the impact of Michael Jackson's public figure and respect for the musician's artistic career made it difficult for them to make the abuses public.

The Jackson family has responded by denying the accusations. "The lawsuit is a desperate attempt to get money," said Marty Singer, the Jacksons' lawyer.