Jermaine Jackson says a rape accusation against him has derailed what should have been a celebratory moment for his son Jafaar Jackson, who stars in the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic.
In new legal documents obtained by TMZ, Jermaine states he was unaware of Rita Butler Barrett's lawsuit until it made headlines during the film's press tour.
Rita claims Jermaine sexually assaulted her in 1988 after showing up at her home uninvited. He denies the allegations.
A default judgment of $6.5 million was entered against Jermaine in May.
He says he was blindsided by the coverage, which he believes ruined the promotion of his son's movie.
Jermaine is now seeking to have the default judgment thrown out, arguing he did not deliberately avoid the lawsuit and wants a chance to defend himself.
He insists he is ready to fight the claims in court if the judgment is vacated.
