Michael Jackson's nephew, Taj Jackson, says he was molested as a boy by a male family member on his mother's side. Taj, 40, revealed his family secret in order to defend his uncle Michael against the most recent molestation allegations made by former child star Wade Robson.
Taj's father is Michael's brother, Tito Jackson, 59.
In a series of Twitter.com messages sent on Wednesday, Taj called Wade a liar, and he said Michael personally consoled him after he told his mother Dee Dee about the incident.
Taj tweeted: "That is how I KNOW Wade is lying. Because I AM a survivor. I was sexually abuse... By an uncle on my mom's side of the family when I was a kid."
Taj said Michael "was a support system for me and my mom... He wrote a letter to her that many have seen already, u just didn't know what it was about."
Taj's mother, Delores "Dee Dee" Martes, drowned in the family pool in 1994 -- a year after her divorce from Tito. Her boyfriend, Donald Bohana, was convicted of second-degree murder in 2000.
Michael's notes to Dee Dee, handwritten on yellow paper, reads:
Dee Dee please read this article about child molestation and please read it to Taj (and his siblings) ... it brings out how even your own relatives can be molesters of children, even uncles or aunts molesting nephews or nieces. Please Read. Love MJ
Taj continued:
"What people will $ay and do for money and to $tay relevant is $ickening. De$perate times call for De$perate mea$ures. #Money...
"I always told my uncle Michael that I would take a bullet for him. I mean it today just as much as I meant it back then... I hate that Wade made me do this, this way. But since my uncle Michael is no longer here to defend himself. I will.
"Make no mistake. Since my uncle Michael is no longer here to defend himself. I WILL. Even if that means friendships."
Taj is pictured (top) at age 11, riding the Roaring Tiger roller coaster with his uncle Michael at Circus World in Orlando, Florida in 1984; and above, 2nd from right, with Michael, his brother TJ, far left, and their cousins (Marlon Jackson's 3 children).
TJ now has joint custody of Michael's children with Katherine Jackson.
IF the true statistics were known, it would show that children are the number 1 victims of rape and sexual abuse in this country. Many children are afraid to speak out for fear of retaliation. And when children do speak out, their family members refuse to report the abuse to authorities. And the sick cycle is repeated as abused children grow up to abuse others.
More from Sandrarose.com:
Photos of Taj as a boy by Sam Emerson
