People News

Michael Jackson pal 'is Blanket's father'

Jun 30, 2009, 9:06 GMT

A friend of Michael Jackson has claimed he is the real father of the singer's youngest child.

Al Malnik - a restaurateur with alleged Mafia links - insists he is the biological parent of seven-year-old Prince Michael II and has pledged to help raise the boy following the 'Thriller' star's death last Thursday (25.06.09).

He is quoted as saying: "I'm the one who saved Michael from bankruptcy and, in return, he said he would name me the executor of his will.

"I was a father figure to Michael and I intend to be a father figure to the son who is rightfully mine.

"He asked me, if anything happened to him, if I would become godfather and parent to Prince Michael."

The mother of Prince Michael II - known as Blanket - is unknown.

The 'Billie Jean' star's ex-wife Debbie Rowe is the mother of his two eldest children, Prince Michael, 12, and Paris, 11.

However, photographs showing the resemblance between Paris and Malnik's own daughter with his wife Nancy have sparked speculation he is also the father of the older children.

A source told Britain's Daily Star newspaper: "Malnik has made no secret of the fact that he has a special relationship with Michael. And now he claims he is the father of his third child. If you look at pictures if Michael's daughter Paris and Malnik's own daughter, they both have a very similar look about them.

"For many people there has been a question mark over this area of Michael's life."

Malnik's claims have been dismissed as "ridiculous" by a family spokesperson.

Michael is rumoured to have met the businessman at a Beverly Hills cosmetic surgery clinic.

Malnik reportedly helped out his friend with a $70 million loan when he was struggling financially in the aftermath of his legal battles stemmed from child sex abuse allegations.