Former child star Mark Lester, a longtime friend of Michael Jackson and the godfather of his children, spoke out on the Today show about rumors that he is actually the biological father of one or more of the late King of Pop's offspring.
Specifically, he thinks he might be the father of Paris Jackson, 11.
These rumors were started by Mark Lester himself, and not without at least some merit - the Oliver! star says he once gave Michael Jackson a sperm donation.
A chiropractor and the father of four daughters of his own in London, Mark Lester, 51, said that years ago Jackson sought his sperm because the pop superstar wanted kids but for whatever reason wasn't "up to" it physically
Michael Jackson was "shy when it came to women," said Lester, who added that it was extremely difficult for his friend to "perform the sexual act."
Even so, Matt Lauer asked, why did he need Mark Lester's sperm?
"That I don't know," said Lester after a long pause. He said he never asked questions about it or donated the sperm under any sort of conditions.
Mark Lester's story about donating sperm to Michael Jackson is beyond strange. But he seems, by and large, to be honest, candid and harboring no ulterior motive.
Another MJ friend, Dr. Arnold Klein, gave sperm to the singer and is rumored to be the kids' father. Klein says he's not, "to the best of my knowledge."
Lester told Lauer that he stepped forward with the story that he may be the father of Paris Jackson because "the story was going to break in any event" in the UK and he wanted to present the case and for his children to hear it from him.
While Mark Lester's ex-wife has subsequently stepped forward to dispute her former spouse's declarations, Michael's mother and the children's legal guardian, Katherine Jackson, says the claims are not in the best interests of the children.
Lester says he is not claiming paternity and has no agenda for speaking out other than that he wants to maintain a relationship with Michael's children.
Follow the jump to watch Mark's interview on Today ...
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15 Comments
August 21st, 2009 12:01 PM
And now there are reports that his ex-wife has said it's not possible for him to be the father because he wasn't that close to Michael Jackson. Marky, you are lying out your a-hole, buddy.
August 21st, 2009 12:37 PM
for goodness just go on oprah or jerry springer and get the stupid test done.. lets just get it over with Fgs..
August 22nd, 2009 1:30 AM
Leave the kids alone...They just lost their Father.. He was the only man they know as Dad... even if these people take a DNA test prove their story they are only ruining their own/MJ's childrens life.... let them life and be happy and may god be with them..
August 22nd, 2009 2:55 AM
How could Mark Lester be the father when Michael himself confessed in a private interview that it was natural conception? Both Michael and Debbie admitted that they made love and that the two children were naturally conceived. Mark Lester's a big fat liar, and only wants publicity. How dare he do that.
August 22nd, 2009 3:15 AM
Ah, journalism, I weep for you. Arnold Klein did not say he gave Michael Jackson sperm. (Disgusting thought!) He said he ONCE gave sperm, which many medical students do to make extra money.
There seems to be a strain of racism in all these spurious sperm discussions. It's hard to imagine that there would be discussions of the paternity of the children of a famous white entertainer. Mark Lester has an unhealthy obsession with Paris Jackson, who is a real person, a child, a grieving daughter, who has done nothing to deserve this unseemly discussion of her parentage.
August 22nd, 2009 8:21 PM
this guy is a straight up idiot. enough said. leave poor paris alone.
August 22nd, 2009 10:39 PM
Anything for MONEY!! First, Dr. Klein claimed to have been the father of Prince Michael which is a lie. Michael is the biological father of Prince Michael based on genetics. Prince Michael has inherited his father's rare skin disorder called Vitiligo.
Look at Prince Michael's hands.
http://cdn.buzznet.com/media/jj1/2009/04/jackson-shopping/michael-jackson-kids-shopping-07.jpg
Don't believe me go to this Vitiligo website that list Prince as having Vitiligo and got it from his father:
http://www.vitiligoguide.com/prince-michael-skin/
Now Mark is lying about Paris. The Jackson men have pretty babies. Why would Michael want the sperms of these 2 ugly men, Klein and Lester?
August 22nd, 2009 10:48 PM
http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2009/08/16/mark-is-a-fantasist-115875-21599726/
The ex-wife of Mark Lester has sensationally blown apart claims he is the father of Michael Jackson's daughter Paris, insisting: "He's living in a fantasy world."
Jane Lester says her former husband of 13 years was not even in contact with Jacko at the time he alleges to have donated his sperm.
"To the best of my knowledge, Mark was not regularly in touch with Michael Jackson until two years after his daughter Paris was born," said Jane, 52, the mother of Mark's four children.
August 22nd, 2009 11:53 PM
Entertaiment Tonight with Diane Dimond is the worse piece of Investigative Reporting I've ever seen. If Entertainment Tonight doesn't take that bit.ch off, the will lose major ratings. I would like to see Entertainment Tonight put Mark Lester's wife's comments on the air. But they won't because that evil bit.ch will never cover anything that makes her a seem like she's promoting lies. What type of stupid interview was that she gave to that London Doctor who claimed to have STOLE a box of MJ's medication from a hotel. That stupid bit.ch Dimond didn't even ask a follow up question like "why would steal from his hotel if that's what you claim?"
August 24th, 2009 10:22 AM
Read this...
The ex-wife of former child star MARK LESTER has slammed reports he could have fathered MICHAEL JACKSON's daughter PARIS - because he was rarely in contact with the King Of Pop.
The Oliver star revealed earlier this month (Aug09) that he could be the 11 year old's biological dad because he donated sperm to Jackson in 1996, following a request from the superstar.
The Thriller hitmaker's family dismissed the claims, with Katherine Jackson's lawyer Londell MCMillan, saying, "These genetic lottery attempts aren't going anywhere. They have no legal standing. They may seek five seconds of fame but the claims have no merit."
Lester's former wife Jane Lester has now backed up MCMillan, insisting her ex lost touch with Jackson in the 1980s and didn't pick up the friendship again until after their youngest child, Felix, was born in 1999.
She tells Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper, "To the best of my knowledge, Mark was not regularly in touch with Michael Jackson until two years after his daughter Paris was born.
"I just can't see how Mark could have donated sperm in 1996 - if he says he did then he's living in a fantasy world.
"After we married in 1991 I vaguely remember Mark mentioning he had met Michael Jackson. But I cannot recall him even having any phone contact with him through the 1990s. He never referred to him as a close friend."