Diana Ross urges privacy for Jackson children

The Associated Press, Tuesday, July 31, 2012, 4:00pm (PDT)

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Diana Ross says the recent turmoil involving Michael Jackson's children and the appointment of a temporary guardian is a private matter and shouldn't be playing out publicly.

The singer writes in a statement to The Associated Press that "all interests are best served if it remains private."

Ross was named in Jackson's 2002 will as a potential guardian for his three children if his mother was not available to serve. A judge suspended Katherine Jackson as the children's guardian last week after a 10-day absence and instructed the temporary guardian, TJ Jackson, to notify Ross of the changes.

Court filings on Friday indicated that Ross' attorney had been given notice.

The 68-year-old singer and Jackson were longtime friends before his death in 2009.