Inside Mariah Carey's complex relationship with her sister who once threatened to sue her over 'public humiliation'
Warning: This article contains discussion of abuse which some readers may find distressing
Details on Mariah Carey's relationship with her sister Alison have resurfaced following the news of her passing on the same day as their mother.
In an exclusive statement shared to PEOPLE magazine yesterday (August 26), the singer tragically revealed that her mom Patricia and sister Alison both died on the same day over the past weekend.
While a cause of death has not yet been shared for either, Carey wrote in her statement: "My heart is broken that I’ve lost my mother this past weekend. Sadly, in a tragic turn of events, my sister lost her life on the same day."
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"I feel blessed that I was able to spend the last week with my mom before she passed," Carey added. "I appreciate everyone’s love and support and respect for my privacy during this impossible time."
The singer was notably estranged from her older sister throughout the latter part of her life, and has often described their relationship as complicated.
In her 2020 memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, the Grammy-winning artist said that she felt the need to distance herself from her sister and her brother, Morgan, to be 'emotionally and physically safer'.
The memoir also detailed the rougher sides to Carey's upbringing in Long Island, New York, and included several anecdotes of alleged abuse she experienced at the hands of her sister.
"Through the years both my sister and brother have put me on the chopping block, sold lies to any gossip ray or trashy website that would buy or listen," she alleged.
"They have attacked me for decades. But when I was 12-years-old, my sister drugged me with Valium, offered me a pinky nail full of cocaine, inflicted me with third-degree burns, and tried to sell me out to a pimp. Something in me was arrested by all that trauma. That is why I often say, 'I am eternally twelve'."
Carey goes on to describe Alison as 'deeply wounded' but the 'most brilliant and broken person I have ever known.'
She notes that her sister experienced the 'discomfort' and 'animosity' in their family firsthand and saw 'things a child should never see and I will never know.'
"I do know that what she experienced damaged and derailed her girlhood," Carey wrote. "She was fully aware when the family unit unraveled and our parents turned on each other; she absorbed the full pain of a family coming undone."
The singer also noted that her sister was 'extremely intelligent and curious and she loved to learn.'
"I was told she brought home good grades, got into good schools, and loved music too."
Following the memoir's release, Alison threatened to sue Carey in February 2021 for $1.25 million in New York County Supreme Court.
Per Variety, the suit claimed: "The infliction of immense emotional distress caused by defendant's heartless, vicious, vindictive, despicable and totally unnecessary public humiliation of defendant's already profoundly damaged older sister."
It continued, "Defendant [used] her status as a public figure to attack her penniless sister, generating sensational headlines describing her lurid claims to promote sales of her book. Defendant's cruel and outrageous allegations have devastated the plaintiff."
NBC News reportedly found a summons listed in New York that includes aforementioned details of the suit, but additional information on its status could not be found.
Alison was 63-years-old at the time of her passing.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact The Compassionate Friends on (877) 969-0010.
Topics: Mariah Carey
Yasmeen Hamadeh