Joe Jackson On Michael's Kids: ‘This Is Where They Belong'

Joe Jackson said Michael Jackson's children are doing well following the death of their father last week at the age of 50.

During a news conference outside the Jackson family compound in Encino, Calif., on Monday afternoon, Joe, Michael's father, told the media that his grandchildren — Prince Michael I, Paris and Prince Michael II — are spending time with their younger relatives.

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"They're happy with the kids that they're around because we have kids over [at the house]. They're small just like they are and some of them are the same age… they were never around other kids, but they're happy," Joe told the media.

Joe, whose wife Katherine filed a petition to be appointed guardian of the minors on Monday morning, said he was pleased the children were with their family and the Jacksons will give the youngsters a proper upbringing.

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"This is where they belong. We're the [grand]parents and we've got other kids of their size," Joe said. "They love those kids and we love those kids too. We're going to take care of them and give them an education that they're supposed to have. We can do that… We have [a space] large enough to be able to extend to them all the help that they might need."

When asked about the biological mother of Michael's oldest children, Debbie Rowe, Joe said she has no part in their plans.

"Debbie Rowe has nothing to do with what we're doing," he said.

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But he didn't rule out Grace Rwaramba, the former nanny of Michael's children, coming back.

"We're looking at that too. She's a good friend of the family and she's friends with the kids," he said.

During the press conference, Joe shot down rumors that there are funeral plans for Michael already, telling reporters the family are waiting to see what happens with a second autopsy.

"We're not ready for that… We're trying to wait on something else. We're searching to see what happened to Michael," he said.

"They're doing it right now and I'm expecting to hear about it right now," he added.

Joe also said rumors that Michael will be buried at Neverland Ranch, the singer's former home, are "not true."

The family patriarch also took time to explain why he promoted his new record label at Sunday night's BET Awards on CNN, something he came under criticism for, during Monday's press conference.

"I was asked that question [and I] answered just like I was asked because they wanted to know what else I was doing," he explained.

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