When Debbie Rowe got engaged to music producer Marc Schaffel earlier this month, few knew the man's connection to her late ex-husband Michael Jackson.
Formerly the official videographer at Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, he was named as a co-conspirator in Jackson’s 2004 child molestation indictment.
The two men were so close that Jackson wrote a dedication to him in 2001’s Invincible, reading, “Marc Schaffel… Thank you for all your help. I love you.”
Their bond was such that despite Schaffel’s total lack of experience, Jackson handed him the reins to oversee his 9/11 single “What More Can I Give.”
As Schaffel’s relationship with Jackson came under the spotlight, however, gay porn director Paul Barresi took notice and revealed his own link to Schaffel.
Working under the name “Marc Frederics,” the man who would one day get engaged to Debbie Rowe directed dozens of gay porn videos in the 80s and 90s.
Barresi claims he reported Schaffel to the Juvenile Crimes Division of the LAPD and the FBI in hopes that he would be “under investigation for child pornography.”
No such investigation materialized, but Schaffel’s porn past soon came to light and the single he was working on with Jackson was quickly scrapped.
“It’s no secret that my background is in the adult film business,” Schaffel insisted at the time the news broke. “I don’t keep anything in my life hidden.”
Ensuring that all his secrets were out in the open, Dateline aired footage of him with two young men but dismissed it as “bad judgment” on Jackson’s part.
Michael Jackson's Kids Through the Years
1. Paris and Prince Baby Photos
Photos of Paris and Prince Michael Jackson as babies. So special.
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1.
Paris and Prince Baby Photos
Photos of Paris and Prince Michael Jackson as babies. So special.
2.
Michael Jackson's Children
Michael Jackson's children, Blanket, Paris and Prince, in an old family photo.
3.
Paris, Prince and Katherine Jackson
Paris, Prince and Katherine Jackson on the kids' first day of school.
4.
Paris and Prince Michael Pic
Michael Jackson's children, Paris and Prince, in an old family photo. So sweet.
5.
Michael Jackson and Children
Michael Jackson and his children, Paris and Prince, in an old family photo.
6.
Paris and Prince Michael Jackson Picture
Paris and Prince Michael Jackson are brother and sister ... but do MJ's kids even have the same biological parents?
7.
Paris Jackson Selfie
Paris Jackson took this self-portrait a few weeks before she attempted suicide. We wish her all the best.
8.
Paris Jackson, Prince Michael Jackson
Paris and Prince Michael Jackson are brother and sister ... but do they have the same biological parents?
9.
Prince MJ
Prince Michael Jackson in L.A.
10.
Paris Jackson Smiling Photo
A photo of Paris Jackson smiling is a welcome respite from some of the sad news we've had to report of late.
11.
Paris Jackson Glamour
Paris Jackson in the new issue of Glamour. Lovely photo of a lovely girl.
12.
Michael Jackson Kids at Handprint Ceremony
Michael Jackson's kids take part in a handprint ceremony in Hollywood.
13.
Michael Jackson Kids on X Factor
Michael Jackson's kids on The X Factor November 30, 2011.
14.
Paris Jackson Red Hair
Paris Jackson's red hair. Look at that new look.
15.
Paris and Prince Jackson Picture
Paris Michael and Prince Michael Jackson honoring their dad. What a nice pic.
16.
Prince, Paris, Blanket Jackson
Michael Jackson's children Paris, Prince Michael and Blanket at the 2011 Michael Forever tribute concert. The show took place in Cardiff, Wales.
17.
Michael Jackson Kids
Michael Jackson's kids Paris, Prince and Blanket at the 2011 Michael Forever tribute concert. The show took place in Cardiff, Wales.
18.
Paris and Prince Michael Jackson
Paris and Prince Michael Jackson in May 2011.
19.
Paris Jackson Twit Pic
Paris Jackson is a frequent user of Twitter. We wish this teenager nothing but the best.
20.
Prince Jackson
Prince Michael Jackson is really coming into his own. Here's the youngster looking a lot like his dad.
21.
Paris Jackson, Debbie Rowe Picture
Paris Jackson and Debbie Rowe share a cute selfie in Hawaii. So sweet.
22.
Paris and Debbie Rowe
Paris Jackson and Debbie Rowe in a cute photo from Twitter. Here's hoping mom keeps getting her the help she needs!
23.
Paris Jackson Testifies
Paris Jackson testifies at the Michael Jackson wrongful death trial.
24.
Paris Jackson Love
Let's all share the love with Paris Jackson and wish her a speedy recovery. Shall we?
25.
Paris Jackson Short Haircut
Paris Jackson's short haircut was certainly a change from what we were used to. What do you think of it?
26.
Paris Jackson and Debbie Rowe
Paris Jackson and Debbie Rowe in a photo from 2013. They have recently become close after a lifetime apart.
27.
Paris Jackson Dancing
Paris Jackson dances to some of her dad's hits. We wish her all the best amid the recent turmoil and tumult in her life.
By July 2002, the King of Pop's camp was publicly disowning the former gay porn king as having "no relationship with Michael Jackson" whatsoever.
But two years later, when Jackson was indicted for child abuse, false imprisonment and felony extortion, Schaffel was named as one of his co-conspirators.
Jackson was later acquitted of all charges, and Schaffel was never charged, resulting in his name being redacted from the officially filed documents.
But another lawsuit that year, brought by Schaffel against Jackson, exposed just how enmeshed he was in the music icon's personal life and affairs.
Schaffel sued Jackson in 2004 for $4 million he claimed the pop star owed him for unpaid loans, cash advances, producing fees, and other expenses.
He also claimed during the trial that he had once made a $300,000 delivery to mysterious South American businessman “Mr. X” on Jackson’s behalf.
He said Jackson had once asked him to find boys to adopt there. A jury awarded Schaffel $900,000 and Jackson got $200,000 in a cross complaint.
Rowe met Schaffel when he was working for Jackson, so it’s likely she’s fully aware of all this, but with her seeking custody of Michael's kids, you have to wonder ...
Should Debbie be the kids' guardian?
Yes, they need that environment! Maybe. Not sure I trust her ... No chance.
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