Michael Jackson’s longtime friend Mark Lester has sensationally revealed he could be the father of the star's daughter, Paris.
The former child actor is godfather to 11-year-old Paris and the King of Pop's two sons, Prince Michael, 12, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II, aka Blanket.
Lester donated his sperm to Jackson following a request from the superstar, leading him to believe Paris is his daughter - and he's decided to speak out because fears he is being cut out of the children's lives by Jackson's mom, Katherine.
He says, "It's been a secret for so long. In 1996 Michael asked me if I would give him my sperm and I said yes. It was a gift to him, no money was paid, it was something I was honoured to do. He wanted children so badly."
Lester insists he has only gone public with the revelations because Jackson's mother Katherine has stopped him from seeing the children since the star died in June, he adds, "This isn't what Michael would have wanted. I feel I have to come forward, as my only way of saying, 'Please don't shut me out!'
"I don't know if I'm doing the right thing speaking out. But I'm not trying to make any claim on anything. Even if it's proven Paris is biologically mine I wouldn't see her as anything other than Michael's daughter. He raised her. Michael was a brilliant dad. Those kids are Michael's children. He was their father. End of story. But I just want to make sure they're happy."
Lester carried out the sperm donation at a London clinic and he's unaware if Jackson had asked anyone else to go through with the procedure - but he's willing to take a paternity test to prove whether he is Paris' biological dad.
Katherine Jackson's lawyer, Londell McMillan, has blasted Lester's claims, 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."
Jackson's ex-wife, Debbie Rowe, is believed to have given birth to both Paris and Prince Michael, while Prince Michael II was born to an unnamed surrogate mother.
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