Casey Kasem’s children stage protest in effort to see ailing dad
Casey Kasem’s three children from his first marriage staged a protest in front of his Holmby Hills home on Tuesday, declaring their only intention was to get to see the ailing 81-year-old radio icon.
A number of family, friends and former co-workers joined in the 90-minute protest, which featured signs and was eventually shut down by police, TMZ reported.
“We’re just quietly saying we want to see my dad, that’s it,” a tearful Kerri Kasem explained to an LAPD officer after police cars and a helicopter arrived on scene, according to KTLA, as seen in the video above.
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Kasem, for decades the voice of “America’s Top 40,” reportedly has advanced Parkinson’s disease.
According to Kerri Kasem, second wife Jean Kasem has not allowed the children or grandchildren to see Casey Kasem in three months. Prior to that he was allowed to come to her house once a month, she told KTLA.
“I’ve got a feeling I might not see him again, and that’s why I’m here,” brother Mouner Kasem told KABC. He told TMZ he hadn’t spoken to Jean since his brother married her 33 years ago.
Kerri Kasem told KABC that Jean, once a costar on “Cheers,” won’t answer their phone calls and tells them to leave if they come to the door.
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“He can’t really speak, but he knows we’re there. And last time we saw him, he could shuffle a little bit,” she told the TV station. “He had a hard, very hard, time walking. He was just deteriorating due to Parkinson’s disease.”
She told the New York Daily News: “There is no money issue here, we just want to see our dad. We love him, and everyone knows his kids and grandkids are a source of joy for him.”
The family told KTLA they had no choice now but to take the issue to the courts.
Jean Kasem was not available for comment, reporters for both stations said.
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