T. J. Jackson (singer) had been in attendance, including Michael's children Prince, Paris and Blanket (Prince II). On August 25, 2012, a judge granted TJ guardianship over Michael Jackson's children Michael Joseph "Prince" Jackson Jr., Paris Katherine Jackson and Prince Michael "Blanket" Jackson II along with his grandmother Katherine Jackson. On November 1, 2017, Jackson resigned as co-guardian of Michael's youngest son, Blanket. Jackson stated her reasons for resigning included her own advanced age, the fact that Michael's older children Prince and Paris were now adults, and that Blanket was now 15 years old. T.J. Jackson was, without objection, awarded sole custody of Blanket.
Michael Jackson 22nd American Music Award for Artist of the Century. On February 22 of the same year, his third child, Prince Michael Jackson II (nicknamed "Blanket") was born. The mother's identity was not announced, but Jackson said Prince was the result of artificial insemination from a surrogate mother and his own sperm. Jackson alleged in July 2002 that Sony Music chairman Tommy Mottola was a "devil" and "racist" who did not support his African-American artists, using them merely for his own gain. He charged that Mottola had called his colleague Irv Gotti a "fat nigger". Sony refused to renew Jackson's contract,