Michael Jackson's Kids: "Today Show" Interviews Godfather Mark Lester, Talks What's Next (VIDEO)

Somewhat lost in the frenzied news coverage of Michael Jackson's death is what will happen to his three children now that their father has passed away.

Jackson had sole custody of his three children, Prince Michael Jackson, 12, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, 11, and Prince Michael Jackson II (Blanket Jackson), 7. The mother of his first two children is ex-wife Debbie Rowe, who has never been a part of their lives. Prince Michael II's mother has never been identified. Michael's mother, Katherine, is likely to get custody.

"They are in the care of a nanny," the Jackson family's longtime attorney, Brian Oxman, tells Us magazine. "Ms. Jackson will care for them and I'm sure there will be all kinds of discussions that will take place about the kids."

The "Today Show" interviewed Mark Lester, the children's godfather, to help determine what's next for these young kids.

View a slideshow of his life in pictures here. Watch all his best music videos here.

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Comments

[Anonani]

For God's sake, the children have lost their FATHER! Whether or not they shared genes with Michael is relevant only to the gossipers and those chasing the money. Please, someone think about how inconsolable these little children must be having lost their FATHER!

[Usama]

Ridiculous that Jackson's will could be overturned by the California courts. Why live in that state? So much BS. And why is the rumor of biological questions raised when MJ was the legal parent?
This type of 'reporting' is too pathetic.

[mphsnme]

Michael had a fascination with Prince. That is why the kids had Prince in their names.

[mphsnme]

I suppose timing and spin are everything, and fact has gone out the window.

Only one of those three children is Michael's biological child. Michael's mother is not their biological grandmother. Debbie Rowe and whoever the real father of the older two should decide who gets custody of them; the baby should go to the real mother.

Can we have some honest reporting for once.

[kibbles]

so i supposed if angelina jolie or madonna were to suddenly died, their daughters from africa would have to be returned? or the families of any adoptive parents would have to relinquish their rights to the bio families upon the death of the adoptive parent? adopted kids are never the kids of the adoptive parents, they're only 'renting' them?

mj was the only father they knew, and he is legal recognized as such therefore those children are his family, whatever their race, and his will ostensibly will dictate who shall have custody of them.

[Hope2]

Which one is his biological child? Since all three are white, and Jackson is technically a black man, none of those kids are his biological children.
I just hope he legally adopted them or those kids lives will be in more of an upheaval than it is now.

[dstikele]

Has anyone mentioned that Mark Lester is the "Oliver" in the movie of the same name?

[Lsharp03]

Yes, many, many years back Michael began a friendship with Lester (Oliver) than endured, and flourished to the extent that he wanted Lester in his children's lives as godparent.

[ladycubsfan]

I was going to but you saved me the trouble. :)

[britinnica]

THEY ARE HIS BIOLOGICAL CHILDREN

THEY WILL BE RAISED BY HIS MUM KATHERINE JACKSON

[Gretel1or2]

They are not Michael's biological children.

[clsmithj]

They are. Are you calling the Jacksons liars? you have some nerve.

[biffbaff]

Two words, Barack Obama. Now that is a biracial person.
I know in rare cases the offsprings might be on different ends of the color spectrum but facial features are hard to dispute. These kids look Nordic - you will be kidding yourself if you think Michael Jackson's genes are anywhere near the two kids. Not even a whiff!

[clsmithj]

Barack's dad is 100% African, Michael Jackson is not 100% African. Not all AAs are 100% and the Jacksons multi-tinted skinned family is proof of that.

[Dupree]

I am an African American/Native American woman and my deceased husband was of another race. Their father had real strong genes and many times people thought I was babysitting someone else children for they do not look African American or Native. Some of my children have been mistaken for spanish, Italian, french, or arabian...depending on what day it is.

And I know of a couple that was of mixed origin and the father was black and the mother was white and their children looked white.

It depends on who has the strongest gene.

[Dupree]

I meant to state that my children father had strong genes...etc.

[llisa]

Well, they have said he is not the father. But you can't tell by looking. My foster grandson's mother is white and father is black. He is white with big, beautiful green eyes and light brown straight hair. He is tall and slim like his father, but no one would know he is half black without being told.

They do have such a thing as DNA testing, and I'm sure that is being/has been done for the Jackson children..

[PresidentRobertBooth]

Give them to Rebbie.

[TabbyJ]

Why can't they just simply talk to the Jackson's lawyers and get the 411 and stop talking to these shyster lawyers that don't know nothing about the situation or anything about Micheal or his finances.

I wonder if these kids were all black would they be asking questions about the custody but you can clearly see they are biracial they look like Micheal's nieces and nephews. These gold digging women are messing with the wrong family if they think that they are getting any of the Micheal Jackson's royalties. People forget that the Jackson family are business people and Micheal's assets are the family's assets and they have worked too hard for their money to give it to some gold digger that was basically was a serrogate that had Micheal's Children.

[who38]

It is because the Jackson family are business people that Michael led such an idiosyncratic life. Do you want that for his children as well?

[cat2763]

miguelisimo2000, what is so weird about raising children that aren't your biological children--it happens everyday. I find your statement to be idiotic at best. I hope these children are raised by their nanny (who has been with them since birth) and whomever Michael has designated in his will. Regardless of what anyone thinks of him, I'm sure they loved their Father very much. My heart goes out to them.

[who38]

Mine as well. I agree that they loved Michael and that he loved them. However, I am not sure about any relationships beyond that. Hope that he didn't give his parents custody.

[brabra]

The mothers of these children do not deserve to have them. What kind of craziness is it to sell your children? (yes that is what they did). They got their money and they walked away. What decent mother would walk away from their children and not have contact with them. If they do want these children back it is so they can get their hands on more money. These children deserve love. Who cares if the children were Michael Jackson's seed or not? If he adopted them he is still their parent. It is really none of our business...is it?

[who38]

Many private adoption mothers and surrogates rent their wombs. Are you saying that the use of surrogates should be defined as "selling their children"? Do you really think that Michael's parents are more qualified to care for these children? Hope not.

[miguelisimo2000]

Those are not his biological children. Weird, weird, weird...................

[viewfromuphere]

Jolie-PItt have a several non biological kids they love, as do many other people none of us have heard of.

to them, Jackson was dad....and it must be hard for them....

[brabra]

What's it to you?

[clsmithj]

and they are his.

[IslandGyal]

Yes, I guess you were there when Michael Jackson ejaculated into the women and stayed put while the sperms and eggs fertilized, huh?

[MizLiz]

How could any columnist continue to refer to a child as "Blanket Jackson"? You are just prolonging that horrid man's twisted ideas of fatherhood.

I hate to think it, but those children are no doubt going to need counseling, but they probably won't get it.

[IslandGyal]

Did anyone see Martin Bershir's interview with Michael Jackson? What a train wreck....

[montecarlo408]

Blanket is the child's nickname. It's not his real name.

[Mygirl]

The kids have really gotten big.

[sysmgr1345]

Maybe now they can get real names and have real lives.

[rockyersocksoff]

It appears very selfish and narcissistic to name those boys as he did.

MJ appears to have seen them not as individuals, but as absolute extensions of himself.

And "Blanket????" That's even further down the crazy-hole.

I hope they turn out OK.

[slipthalo]

Ahhh, blanket is a cute nickname.

[kate99]

blanket is not his real name its a nickname is it not because he was the baby in hotel that was dangled over the rail

as far as custody goes for me Debbie Rowe should not get it she had the chance 2 times and she took cash plus its funny how she is wanting to fight again now with what ever cash is left would be for the kids and she would control that

plus the night michael died the news said that there is a lock solid case that michaels mum will get full custody

[IslandGyal]

I hope so too, as I fear for their psychological beings.