OTRC: Diana Ross urges privacy for Michael Jackson's children

Diana Ross has broken her silence about Michael Jackson's family squabble over the custody of his three children - she is urging people to keep the matter private.

The late King of Pop's 2002 will had stated that his mother would be the guardian of his kids, Prince, Paris and Blanket and that if she were unable to assume the duty, his longtime friend Ross, 68, would act as a potential replacement.

Katherine, 82, had earlier this month traveled to Arizona to visit other family members for in what appeared to be a surprise move that had even spurred her nephew to file a missing person's report and several of her other children, including Janet Jackson, to try and remove the kids from her home.

The custody battle occurred amid an ongoing dispute over Jackson's estate. The King of Pop died on June 25, 2009 at age 50. Several of his siblings, including his youngest brother Randy say his will, which names his mother and children as his sole heirs, is fake.

A rep for the estate denied this, adding: "We are saddened that false and defamatory accusations grounded in stale Internet conspiracy theories are now being made by certain members of Michael's family whom he chose to leave out of his will."

(Pictured above: Michael Jackson and Diana Ross hold their American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Jan. 30, 1981. Jackson won for favorite soul album and Ross won for favorite female soul vocalist. Credit: AP)