Jermaine Jackson Hit With 6.5 Million Dollar Default Judgment in Rape Lawsuit

*Jermaine Jackson, the 71-year-old singer and former Jackson 5 member, has been ordered to pay more than $6.5 million to a woman who accused him of rape. On May 14 (2026), a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge entered a default judgment against Jackson in favor of Rita Butler Barrett. The judgment includes compensation for […] The post Jermaine Jackson Hit With 6.5 Million Dollar Default Judgment in Rape Lawsuit appeared first on EURweb | Black News, Culture, Entertainment & More.

May 16, 2026 - 17:43

Jermaine Jackson Hit With 6.5 Million Dollar Default Judgment in Rape Lawsuit

Jermaine Jackson - via Depositphotos1 — Jermaine Jackson – via Depositphotos

*Jermaine Jackson, the 71-year-old singer and former Jackson 5 member, has been ordered to pay more than $6.5 million to a woman who accused him of rape. On May 14 (2026), a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge entered a default judgment against Jackson in favor of Rita Butler Barrett. The judgment includes compensation for emotional distress, medical expenses, and court costs.

The Allegations Against Jermaine Jackson

Barrett, a former session musician coordinator, filed her civil lawsuit in December 2023. She claims that in the spring of 1988, Jermaine Jackson forced his way into her home in the Encino area of Los Angeles and raped her. According to the complaint viewed by PEOPLE, Barrett knew Jackson through her husband, Ben Barrett, who worked closely with Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records.

During the alleged assault, Barrett stated that she prayed to God for help and feared for her life. The complaint alleges that Gordy had a business or management relationship with Jackson at the time. Barrett claimed she reported the alleged assault to Gordy the following day. She accused Gordy and others in the music business of concealing the incident to protect Jackson’s image and preserve profits tied to his career. The complaint alleged a broader cover-up aimed at suppressing the incident for the purpose of profit and preservation of reputation.

Jermaine Jackson - screenshot — Jermaine Jackson – screenshot

Why the Court Issued a Default Judgment

Barrett’s attorneys could not locate Jermaine Jackson for personal service of the lawsuit. After multiple failed attempts, the court allowed them to serve him via a public notice published in The Los Angeles Times. Jackson never responded to the lawsuit, and no lawyer ever appeared on his behalf. Because he failed to answer the complaint or defend against the civil claims, the court granted Barrett’s motion for a default judgment.

The judgment totals more than 6.5 million dollars, which includes damages plus legal and medical costs. The court also awarded Barrett 7,131.84 dollars in court costs. This is a civil case, not a criminal one. No criminal charges were ever filed against Jermaine Jackson related to these allegations. As of May 16, 2026, Jackson has not publicly commented on the ruling.

Impact of the Assault on the Accuser

The complaint detailed the severe toll the alleged assault took on Barrett. It stated that she suffered severe emotional, physical, and psychological injury, including humiliation, shame, guilt, economic loss, loss of economic capacity, and permanent emotional distress. The filing under California law allowed Barrett to pursue civil claims that might otherwise have been barred by the statute of limitations due to the alleged cover-up.

Jermaine Jackson’s Connection to the Michael Jackson Biopic

The default judgment adds another layer of legal and personal turmoil to Jermaine Jackson’s public life. However, the singer has remained focused on a different high-profile project tied closely to his family. Despite the serious nature of the civil ruling against him, Jermaine continues to champion the one release he believes will restore the Jackson legacy.

Jermaine Jackson remains deeply tied to the upcoming Michael Jackson biographical film “Michael,” which was released on April 24 (2026). His son, Jaafar Jackson, now 29, plays the lead role as his uncle Michael Jackson. This marks Jaafar’s acting debut, and he has received significant praise for capturing Michael’s voice, dance moves, mannerisms, and look.

Jermaine has been one of the most vocal supporters of the movie within the Jackson family. He views it as a major opportunity to revive the Jackson brand and legacy after Michael’s death in 2009. During a private family screening, Jermaine reportedly clashed with his sister Janet Jackson, who was very critical of the film. According to sources, Jermaine told her: “You are so jealous — just get on the wave.” The film has caused visible tension in the Jackson family, particularly between Jermaine and Janet. He has publicly defended the project and his son’s performance multiple times in interviews. Jermaine also re-released and updated his book “You Are Not Alone: Michael, Through a Brother’s Eyes” in April 2026 to coincide with the movie’s release.