Debbie Rowe has hit back at reports she is only fighting for custody of her two children with Michael Jackson to avoid ruining her reputation.
Jackson clan matriarch Katherine was made temporary guardian of Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II, aka Blanket, after her superstar son died last month.
Rowe's alleged confidante Rebecca White claimed to have received an email from Jackson's ex earlier this month, indicating she had no intention of fighting for custody of the eldest two kids, the New York Post reported on Wednesday (15Jul09).
In one email Rowe allegedly wrote, "My lawyer is telling me I have to take some responsibility about the welfare of the children. Do I want the kids? Hell no. Does it look good for me to ask for them? Absolutely.
"I don't want to look like the woman who gave away her kids and just forgot about them. Would Michael want (his dad) Joe to have them? I think it would be the last thing that he would ever have wanted."
White added: "The motivation is money. I really have to be honest... If the children aren't the ones she wants, what else will she gain from it? It's not like she doesn't love them. It's not like she doesn't want the best for them. But her life is different. The idea of being a mother to those children is something I don't think she really wants... She can't just sit back in the shadows and not say anything because then she will be looked at as the woman who gave up her children, and that's a horrible thing to say... She had to do something to protect them in a way."
But Rowe has denied all the allegations and reportedly plans to attend a Los Angeles Superior Court hearing on 20 July for temporary guardianship of the children.
Rowe's attorney says in a statement: "Our firm has sent Ms. White a letter disputing the truth of her statements and demanding that she make retraction in order to avoid legal action."
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