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Riley Keough says she ‘didn’t know’ about Sєxual abuse allegations against stepfather Michael Jackson

Riley Keough says she ‘didn’t know’ about Sєxual abuse allegations against stepfather Michael Jackson

Riley Keough revealed she was ‘never told’ about the Sєxual abuse allegations against her stepfather, Michael Jackson, during his two-year marriage to her late mother, Lisa Marie Presley. 

She was only about 10-years-old at the time the claims were made, so it’s very likely the news did not reach her. 

The actress, 35 – who previously addressed a ‘family curse’ after the tragic deaths of her mother and brother Benjamin – opened up about the late King of Pop during Wednesday’s episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast. 

Presley and Jackson were briefly married from 1994 until their divorce was finalized two years later. 

In the 90s and early 2000s, the Thriller hitmaker had been accused of Sєxually abusing minors, but during a 2005 trial, the late singer was found not guilty on a total of 14 charges. 

‘I was never told anything. It’s actually not something I ever asked as an adult,’ the star expressed. ‘I think it just was what it was. I don’t know, it just never came to mind, I guess.’

Riley is the daughter of Lisa Marie and Danny Keough – who were married from 1988 until 1994. The former couple had also welcomed son Benjamin, who tragically pᴀssed away in 2020 by suicide. 

Riley Keough, 35,revealed she was 'never told' about the Sєxual abuse allegations against her stepfather, Michael Jackson, during his two-year marriage to her late mother, Lisa Marie Presley; seen in June 2024 in L.A.

Riley Keough, 35,revealed she was ‘never told’ about the Sєxual abuse allegations against her stepfather, Michael Jackson, during his two-year marriage to her late mother, Lisa Marie Presley; seen in June 2024 in L.A. 

Jackson were briefly married from 1994 until their divorce was finalized two years later; seen in 1994 in France

Jackson were briefly married from 1994 until their divorce was finalized two years later; seen in 1994 in France 

‘I would imagine that my dad was really heartbroken and reading the news and I’m sure that – I’m just imagining,’ the star said of Keough. 

She further reflected, ‘I would imagine he said all kinds of things to my mom that we didn’t know about.’ 

While growing up, both her mother and father had made it important to not ‘fight around the kids.’ 

‘We didn’t know anything. We didn’t know about any allegations. We didn’t know. We had no awareness of that.’

On Lisa Marie’s marriage to Jackson, Riley expressed, ‘The one thing I know is that they were in love and that their love for one another was genuine. I was there and I remember. Everything else, I don’t know, because I wasn’t there for [it].’

During the two years that Michael was her stepfather, the actress recalled how life had become ‘bigger.’ 

‘I think when she saw Michael’s life, there were things that he had that she didn’t have,’ Riley said of her late mother – who pᴀssed away in January 2023 at age 54. 

‘She didn’t have a plane at the time or things like that. She then was like, “Oh, I should have a plane, and I should have this and that.”‘ 

In the 90s and early 2000s, the Thriller hitmaker had been accused of Sєxually abusing minors, but during a 2005 trial, the late singer was found not guilty on a total of 14 charges; seen in 1994

In the 90s and early 2000s, the Thriller hitmaker had been accused of Sєxually abusing minors, but during a 2005 trial, the late singer was found not guilty on a total of 14 charges; seen in 1994 

'I was never told anything. It's actually not something I ever asked as an adult,' Riley expressed. 'I think it just was what it was. I don't know, it just never came to mind, I guess'; seen in 2024 in NYC

‘I was never told anything. It’s actually not something I ever asked as an adult,’ Riley expressed. ‘I think it just was what it was. I don’t know, it just never came to mind, I guess’; seen in 2024 in NYC

Comparatively, Lisa Marie’s marriage to Keough was more ‘simple,’ with Riley explaining, ‘At home, like, she didn’t have 10 million ᴀssistants. She didn’t need all of that [with Danny]. I think that changed.’

The daughter of Elvis Presley had also previously addressed Jackson’s Sєxual abuse allegations. 

Read More Elvis Presley’s granddaughter Riley Keough addresses claims her family is cursed article image

In the 2003 book тιтled The Magic And The Madness written by J. Randy Taraborrelli, a quote from Lisa Marie said: ‘I believed he didn’t do anything wrong.’ 

‘And that he was wrongly accused and, yes, I started falling for him. I wanted to save him. I felt that I could do it.’

The late star also commented on the allegations in her posthumous memoir, From Here To The Great Unknown, which was released last year in October 2024. 

‘I never saw a godd**n thing like that. I personally would’ve killed him if I did,’ Presley had written, per Us Weekly.  

During a past interview with T Magazine, Riley recalled her late mother’s marriage to Jackson and also spending time at Neverland. 

‘I loved him,’ Keough said of the late singer, and added of Michael’s $100 million abode, ‘There were toys everywhere, animals everywhere, kids everywhere. It was like being at Disneyland all day.’

On Lisa Marie's marriage to Jackson, Riley expressed, 'The one thing I know is that they were in love and that their love for one another was genuine. I was there and I remember. Everything else, I don't know, because I wasn't there for [it]'; seen in 1994

On Lisa Marie’s marriage to Jackson, Riley expressed, ‘The one thing I know is that they were in love and that their love for one another was genuine. I was there and I remember. Everything else, I don’t know, because I wasn’t there for [it]’; seen in 1994

During the Call Her Daddy podcast interview, Riley also reflected on how she raises her daughter Tupelo, two, differently than how she grew up with mother Lisa Marie. 

The Under The Bridge actress shares her little one with husband Ben Smith-Peterson, whom she tied the knot with in 2015. 

‘I think she was such an amazing parent and she wanted us to have, I think like her father did, these amazing experiences all the time,’ the star explained. 

‘For me personally, I think that the problem there could be for some that when you’re used to so much, it’s hard to find joy in simple things.’ 

Keough added that she wants her kids ‘to be able to find joy playing in the backyard and doing normal kids stuff and not need elephants and circus and all these things all the time.’ 

Of her late mom, Riley expressed to host Alex Cooper, ‘I think her intention was really wanting to give everything she could to her kids.’  

The actress further discussed her parenting style while talking to People a few months earlier in November. 

‘I think that I always say it’s this southern style of parenting, but it’s actually very specifically my family.’

During the Call Her Daddy podcast interview, Riley also reflected on how she raises her daughter Tupelo, two, differently than how she grew up with mother Lisa Marie; seen in 2017 in L.A.

During the Call Her Daddy podcast interview, Riley also reflected on how she raises her daughter Tupelo, two, differently than how she grew up with mother Lisa Marie; seen in 2017 in L.A. 

This past weekend on January 12 was the second anniversary of Lisa Marie's death after her pᴀssing at age 54 in 2023

This past weekend on January 12 was the second anniversary of Lisa Marie’s death after her pᴀssing at age 54 in 2023

‘I think it is from the south, but whatever way she was parented was how I was parented in a sense. And I also now sort of parent that way. It’s really loving and tactile and smothering – no boundaries.’ 

This past weekend on January 12 was the second anniversary of Lisa Marie’s death after her pᴀssing at age 54 in 2023. 

Her death was revealed to have been caused by a small bowel obstruction from past weight loss surgery. 

Lisa’s mother, Priscilla Presley, paid tribute on social media by sharing an ᴀssortment of throwback pH๏τos of the late star. 

She also penned, ‘I miss you more than words can say. I wish I could hold you, talk to you, see your smile just one more time.’

‘I wish you could see how much you are still loved, how deeply you are missed by all of us who carry you in our hearts. -Mom.’ 

Lisa Marie’s twin daughters Finley and Harper, 16 – whom she welcomed with Michael Lockwood – also uploaded special messages of their own. 

Alongside a picture that was taken of Lisa when the twins were newborns, Finley wrote, ‘2 years. I love you always.’ 

Harper additionally uploaded a throwback image and expressed, ‘I can’t believe it’s been 2 years. I miss you and love you so much mama.’ 

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