Michael Jackson's longtime friend Mark Lester is not the father of Paris Jackson, one of the pop star's three children, the U.S. magazine People reported on its Web site on Monday.
Lester, who is best known for starring in the Oscar-winning movie "Oliver!," never claimed paternity, as reported in the British tabloid News of the World, the report said.
Sources close to the Jackson family told People that Lester donated sperm for Jackson, but he has never claimed to be the father of 11-year-old Paris.
"They twisted his words around. He's not claiming to be the father of Paris Jackson," one source told People.
Jackson family attorney Londell McMillan told People the story is just another meaningless claim, and the probate court has no reason to change its finding that Jackson fathered all three of his children.
Family sources told People that Lester, 51, and Jackson were longtime friends, and Lester did donate sperm for the pop star, but not at a time when it could have been used to conceive Paris.
"He has known Michael for many years and his children play with Michael's children," Jackson family associate and past lawyer Brian Oxman told People.
He said Lester never previously indicated he was Paris's father.
Jackson associate Marc Schaffel told People that Jackson made Lester the godfather of all three of his children in October 2003, when they were baptized Catholic with the permission of Jackson's then-wife Debbie Rowe. He also noted that Rowe has always maintained that Jackson is Paris' father.
The paternity of Jackson's children is a hot topic for debate among Jackson's fans.
Meanwhile, another probate hearing is scheduled for Monday regarding Jackson's estate.
Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson, will attend the hearing, where she is expected to seek a share of the authority now held by estate special administrators John Branca and John McClain.
Jackson died June 25 at his rented Holmby Hills mansion at age 50, just days before he was to perform a series of concerts in London.
Autopsy results have been withheld as authorities investigate whether Jackson died from an anesthetic allegedly given to him by a live-in doctor.
(Xinhua News Agency August 11, 2009)
