La Toya Jackson REVEALS How Jermaine BROKE Their Family Forever | HO

May 2025 – The Jackson family is one of the most iconic dynasties in music history, but behind their incredible success lies a story of pain, jealousy, and betrayal. In a series of candid revelations, La Toya Jackson has opened up about how her brother Jermaine Jackson’s actions contributed to the cracks that ultimately broke the family apart. With new details coming to light, fans and critics alike are re-examining the legacy of the Jacksons and the role Jermaine played in their downfall.

Sibling Rivalry and the Shadow of Michael’s Success

The Jackson 5’s rise from a cramped house in Gary, Indiana, to global superstardom is legendary. Hits like “ABC,” “I Want You Back,” and “I’ll Be There” defined a generation, and the group’s trailblazing success opened doors for Black artists everywhere. But as the spotlight grew brighter, so did the shadows within the family.

According to La Toya, much of the tension stemmed from Jermaine’s jealousy of Michael. Speaking candidly in interviews, she claimed, “Jermaine is definitely jealous of him. I mean, it’s very blatant that he’s very jealous of Michael or anybody that succeeds in that matter in the family.” While Jermaine has publicly denied these claims, insisting, “Who has not had success in my family? We were the Jackson 5. Every song Michael sung on, I sung on,” the rift between the brothers was apparent to those close to them.

Family friends and industry insiders have corroborated La Toya’s account. Journalist Stacy Brown, a longtime confidant of the Jacksons, recounted how Jermaine would often lament, “That should have been me,” as Michael’s solo career skyrocketed. Even Jermaine himself, in a rare moment of candor, admitted to a reporter, “Even though Michael is very talented, a lot of his success has been due to timing and a little bit of luck. It could have been him or it could just as easily have been me.”

The Motown Split: A Turning Point

The Jackson 5’s early days were marked by unity and shared ambition. But by the mid-1970s, the group faced the same struggles as many young artists: they wanted more creative control and a larger share of their earnings. When the opportunity came to leave Motown for CBS’s Epic Records, the family was eager to seize it—except for Jermaine.

Jermaine’s decision to stay with Motown, influenced in part by his marriage to Hazel Gordy (the daughter of Motown founder Berry Gordy), sent shockwaves through the family. While the rest of the brothers moved forward as “The Jacksons,” Jermaine’s absence was deeply felt. La Toya and others have suggested that this was the moment the group’s chemistry—and their momentum—began to unravel.

Fans and family members alike saw Jermaine’s move as a betrayal. “He chose his own comfort over the group’s future,” one industry insider remarked. The Jacksons’ post-Motown albums struggled to recapture their earlier magic, and many pointed to Jermaine’s absence as the missing piece.

Personal Betrayals: Love and Loyalty Tested

The professional rift was only part of the story. Jermaine’s personal choices further strained family ties. Notably, he married Hazel Gordy, rumored to have once dated Michael. Even more controversially, Jermaine later married Alejandra Oaziaza, who had previously been in a long-term relationship with his younger brother Randy Jackson and had two children with him. Jermaine’s secret marriage to Alejandra in 1995, and the three children they had together, caused a scandal that rippled through the family for years.

These actions didn’t just break hearts—they broke trust. “Was it ego? Was it betrayal? Did Jermaine tear the Jackson family apart from the inside out?” La Toya has asked publicly, echoing the questions on the minds of many fans.

A Childhood of Discipline and Trauma

Understanding the Jackson family’s internal struggles also means looking at their upbringing. In his memoir, “You Are Not Alone: Michael Through a Brother’s Eyes,” Jermaine detailed the harsh realities of their childhood. Raised as Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Jackson children never celebrated Christmas or birthdays, which Jermaine said made them feel like outsiders. Their father, Joe Jackson, was notoriously strict—so much so that the children were forbidden from calling him “Dad.” He never expressed affection, and physical punishment was common.

La Toya has also spoken about the emotional and physical abuse they suffered. Even as adults, she said, “My brothers were grown and my father would take his fist and he would punch them and knock them down the steps constantly. To this day, they are still afraid of my father.” Michael, despite his public persona as the King of Pop, was reportedly terrified of Joe Jackson behind closed doors.

The Fallout: Diss Tracks and Distance

Jermaine’s jealousy and bitterness sometimes spilled over into his music. In 1991, he released “Word to the Badd,” widely interpreted as a diss track aimed at Michael. The lyrics attacked Michael’s plastic surgery and accused him of self-centeredness. Jermaine later claimed the song was meant to help his brother “get a grip on reality,” but fans saw it as evidence of deep-seated resentment.

The brothers’ relationship grew increasingly distant. From 1984 to 1992, Jermaine said he saw Michael only a handful of times, despite sending letters and packages that went unanswered. “He could have picked up the phone and seen me anytime he wanted,” Jermaine said, but the calls never came.

A Family Broken—But Not Beyond Repair?

Some argue that it’s unfair to place all the blame on Jermaine for the family’s troubles. The Jacksons’ traumatic upbringing, relentless work schedule, and the pressures of fame all played a role in their eventual fracturing. Jermaine himself has acknowledged the pain and dysfunction they endured, writing about how their father’s methods “limited their free time in order to focus on music, making them practice five hours a day after classes.”

Yet, as La Toya and others have made clear, Jermaine’s choices—both professional and personal—left scars that may never fully heal. His jealousy of Michael, his decision to stay with Motown, and his controversial relationships all contributed to the slow crumble of the world’s most famous musical family.

Conclusion: The Legacy of the Jacksons

The Jackson family’s story is a testament to both the heights of success and the depths of personal struggle. As La Toya Jackson continues to speak out, she invites fans to look beyond the glitz and glamour, to understand the real people behind the legend. Whether Jermaine was the villain or simply a product of his environment, his actions undeniably played a role in breaking the family forever.

What do you think? Was Jermaine truly the cause of the Jacksons’ downfall, or was he just another victim of their difficult upbringing and the pressures of fame? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.