Tony Bennett’s Kids’ Legal Battle Spills His Personal Struggles

The authorized drama between Tony Bennett‘s youngsters continues, along with his oldest son exposing his darkish previous to assist arguments.

The rift throughout the music icon’s household started final 12 months when his daughters, Antonia and Johanna Bennett, accused their older brother, Danny Bennett, of abusing his trustee rights earlier than and after their father’s demise.

The ladies claimed their sibling had engaged in “a number of conflicting fiduciary capacities,” forcing them to demand an in depth accounting of Tony Bennett’s property. Nevertheless, the oldest Bennett baby refused to adjust to their needs, arguing that they’d no proper to view the property’s expenditures.

In response to courtroom paperwork, Danny not too long ago responded to his sisters’ demand for his or her late father’s property spending. He rejected their request, stressing that he performed a major function in Tony’s profitable profession, particularly his unforgettable comeback.

Danny claimed Tony credited him for turning his life round “after he hit all-time low within the late Nineteen Seventies, together with a near-fatal cocaine overdose and monetary catastrophe that brought on the IRS to grab his house in Los Angeles.”

The RPM Productions founder served as his father’s supervisor from the Nineteen Seventies till his 2021 retirement, a place he argued Tony credited him for when he gained a comeback Grammy Award in 1995. His lawyer echoed comparable sentiments within the paperwork obtained by In Touch, claiming:

“Tony thought of Danny to be one in all his biggest belongings. Along with naming Danny cotrustee, Tony additionally retained Danny to be his private supervisor and his enterprise supervisor.”

Moreover serving to Tony flip his profession round, Danny famous he stepped up after the Jazz icon couldn’t go on tour and negotiated a profitable deal on his behalf. He signed an settlement to promote the singer’s memorabilia, music royalty stream, and rights to his likeness and publicity.

The contract, generally known as the “Iconoclast Deal,” included a purchase order worth and a stream of earnings for a restricted interval from numerous tasks. Danny added that he was “absolutely clear” along with his sisters concerning the deal’s particulars, together with the generated earnings.

As for Antonia and Johanna’s request for the property’s accounting, Danny argued that they’d no authorized rights to view the funds earlier than and after their father’s demise. His legal professional mirrored his stance, noting:

“It merely is senseless to go to the expense and energy of an accounting for an property that has been open for barely a 12 months.”

Antonia and Johanna didn’t dispute Danny’s function in revamping their late father’s picture however known as him out for partaking in “self-dealing” earlier than and after Tony’s demise. They claimed he offered “conflicting monetary statements” concerning the property.

Their allegations continued with claims of “unexplained bills totaling many lots of of 1000’s of {dollars} (or extra).” Moreover, there have been “vital distributions, items, and different funds that Danny made on to himself or for his personal profit whereas sporting each fiduciary hat potential.”

Antonia and Johanna claimed Danny’s actions earlier than Tony’s demise “have been something however peculiar and lift critical considerations concerning the Publish-Demise Interval.”

In response to their criticism, he “acted in a number of, conflicting fiduciary capacities for an prolonged interval previous to Tony’s demise and took (for himself and his youngsters) vital funds from the Household Belief.”

Tony’s daughters famous that Danny had publicized his diminished capability earlier than his demise. They argued that in this section, their father had been unable to behave as a co-trustee, making their brother the only real trustee of the Household Belief with out oversight.

Antonia and Johanna harassed that this was improper as a result of their father created the belief for his 4 youngsters and supposed for it to deal with them equally. “It’s essential that every one beneficiaries of the Household Belief can look at Danny’s conduct to make sure Tony’s needs are fulfilled.”

The Bennett youngsters embody a second son, Dae, who is just not collaborating within the authorized battle. The accounting drama started in June 2024, a 12 months after Tony’s demise in July 2023, with The Blast reporting that Danny had initially tried to delay a courtroom listening to.

Final 12 months, Danny implored the courtroom for an extension within the accounting drama as a result of his legal professional was newly retained and unfamiliar with the case. The authorized rep additionally famous that he and his companion had upcoming holidays and couldn’t reply to the Bennet sisters’ petition.

Nevertheless, Antonia and Johanna rejected Danny’s request, insisting they have been owed an in depth accounting of their late father’s property. They dropped a counteroffer, noting they might comply with an extension if their brother offered the requested monetary particulars inside 45 days.

The sisters’ battle for the property’s accounting started over vital disparities in Tony’s funds. They believed their father amassed over $100 million prior to now 15 years, but his property was solely price $7 million after his demise — a sum they argued deserved readability.

Will Tony Bennett’s youngsters be capable of settle their variations amicably?