Michael Jackson Estate Says Ex-Manager Cannot Start a Foundation in His Name Or Use His Likeness at All

Mike Walters

Michael Jackson's ex-manager announced today the formation of a foundation in the pop star's name but the MJ estate says she has absolutely no right to do so.

Raymone Bain, who worked with Jackson for many years, held a press conference on Thursday morning where she announced the establishment of the MJ Legacy Foundation to "preserve, protect and defend his name while supporting the numerous organizations he supported during his life."

But Bain does not have the right to use his image or name in any company, even a charity.

A spokesperson for the MJ estate tells The Blast, "Raymone Bain is not authorized to act on behalf of the Michael Jackson Estate nor to use Michael Jackson’s name in any way for charitable or her own commercial purposes. We do agree with her comments about 'Leaving Neverland' and her encouraging a boycott of HBO over its inexcusable disparagement of Michael Jackson’s character."

The estate's reference to "Leaving Neverland" comes after Bain spoke about the inaccuracy of the documentary and how it is tarnishing his legacy. The estate understandably agrees with that part.

Sources close to MJ's family tell us they have a huge issue with Bain because they feel she "failed as Michael Jackson’s manager" and was eventually terminated from that job in 2007.

Also, Bain sued Michael Jackson in 2009 before he died for $44 million and then his estate after he passed away for over $50 million in two separate lawsuits.

Both lawsuits resulted in dismissals or verdicts against Bain.

Bain also went off about trying to find some sort of will she says may tell a different story than what has been used by his family since his death.

She said, "I have wished, I have hoped and I have prayed that Michael Jackson's will — dated October 6, 2006 — would be found, revealed, discovered, dropped from the sky. Because in it, he painstakingly outlined how he wanted his legacy to be preserved and maintained."

The will has come up several times after Michael's death but at this point, an earlier will has been used for probate by a court in Los Angeles and laid out the beneficiaries as his children and mother.