Jermaine Jackson ordered to pay more than $6.5M to woman who accused him of rape after ignoring lawsuit
Jermaine Jackson ordered to pay more than $6.5M to woman who accused him of rape after ignoring lawsuit
Kathleen PerriconeSat, May 16, 2026 at 12:37 AM UTC
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Jermaine Jackson at the 'Michael' premiere in Berlin
Credit: Tristar Media/WireImageKey Points
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Jermaine Jackson has been ordered to pay more than $6.5 million to a woman who accused him of rape back in 1988.
In December 2023, she filed a lawsuit against Jackson, father of Michael star Jaafar Jackson, which was ignored.
Jackson's accuser alleges he broke into her home and sexually assaulted her with "force and violence."
After years of avoiding a lawsuit, Jermaine Jackson must now face the music.
The former Jackson 5 vocalist, and father of Michael star Jaafar Jackson, has been ordered to pay more than $6.5 million to a woman who sued him for rape and sexual assault in December 2023.
On Thursday, a default judgment filed in Los Angeles Superior Court ruled that Jackson must compensate his accuser Rita Butler Barrett for damages, according to PEOPLE.
Jermaine Jackson and Jaafar Jackson attend the 'Michael' premiere on April 10, 2026
Credit: Ben Kriemann/Getty
The alleged incident took place back in 1988, when Barrett claims Jackson forced his way into her home and sexually assaulted her with "force and violence." According to her lawsuit, Barrett "feared for her life."
Jackson had been known to Barrett for years, she stated, due to their "professional and personal connections": her husband, Ben Barrett, worked with Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, who signed the Jackson 5 in 1968. Five years later, Jermaine married Gordy's eldest daughter Hazel Joy, with whom he had three children.
At the time of the alleged incident, Jackson was separated from Hazel, who filed for divorce in November 1987 after he had a child with mistress Margaret Maldonado.
In the 2023 complaint, Barrett stated she reported the alleged assault to Gordy the very next day; however, he "withheld and concealed the acts" to protect Jackson, who was signed to Motown Records as a solo artist.
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As a result of the incident, Barrett claims she "suffered severe emotional, physical, and psychological injury, including humiliation, shame, guilt, economic loss, economic capacity, and permanent emotional distress," according to the lawsuit.
"This is about her power and the declaration of it when she learned something could be done under the law," said her attorney Jeff Anderson in a statement, "and she found the strength and support to find us and is now standing up for herself and others."
The extended Jackson family, with Jermaine in the center, at the 'Michael' premiere in Hollywood
Credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Representatives for Jermaine Jackson did not immediately respond to Entertainment Weekly's request for comment.
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As a solo artist, Jackson recorded 14 albums, including two titled Jermaine released in 1972 and 1980. His debut single, a cover of Shep and the Limelites' "Daddy’s Home," sold over 1 million copies. In 1980, he received his only Grammy Award nomination, for "Let's Get Serious" off the album of the same name.
Jackson's last appearance on the Billboard charts was in 1989 with "Don't Take It Personal," which peaked at No. 1 on the R&B singles chart.
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