As season accolades keep coming for the Glitzy and surreal “Elvis” biopicthere is no denying the all-too-true and tragic life and death of her granddaughter.
An explosive documentary — “TMZ Investigates: Lisa Marie Presley: An Unending Tragedy” (airs Monday, Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. on Fox) – sheds new light on the disappearance of the superstar scion, with accusations of drug addiction, references to frightening weight loss and mysterious insurance policies and allegations of “ fraud” and a “taking money”.
Elvis Presley’s only child died of cardiac arrest at age 54 January 12. She is survived by her mother, Priscilla Presley, 77, her adult daughter, actress Riley Keough, 33, and twins Harper and Finley Lockwood, 14. (She also had a son Benjamin, who is dead by suicide in 2020 at age 27.)
Two of Presley’s four ex-husbands, Danny Keough, 61, and Michael Lockwood, 58, were also still in the late singer’s life.
A bitter feud is reportedly brewing between the pair — who apparently can’t stand each other — over custody of Presley’s twins, according to the outlet. Meanwhile, a source told the new documentary that Presley also has a strained relationship with his mother, which could soon come to the fore in a legal battle.
“There was a lot of bad blood between them,” TMZ producer Jacob Wasserman said. “Yes, they were together at the Golden Globes [days before Presley’s death]but some family members told us they were absolutely shocked to see them sitting at the same table.
Here’s what’s revealed in the shocking special. Warning: major spoilers follow.
‘Bad blood’ between Presley’s ex-husbands: Custody battle looms
According to the documentary, a family dispute is brewing over the late singer’s custody of her two teenage children. In an exclusive clip from the doc, TMZ boss Harvey Levin says Lockwood will “almost certainly” be full custody of twins Harper and Finley.
However, Keough (the father of her first two children) was living with the family at the time of her death and was also close to the girls.
Presley was married to Keough from 1988 to 1994 and to Lockwood from 2006 to 2021.
“Riley desperately wants to maintain a relationship with her sisters,” a reporter told TMZ. “Of course Priscilla wants to see her granddaughters. Danny definitely wants to keep in touch with the kids…but there’s a lot of bad blood between Danny and Michael.
Opioid rumors, quick 50 pound weight loss
The documentary delves into Presley’s well-documented struggles with drugs and alcohol.
When Presley attended the Golden Globes just two days before her death, she was visibly fragile.
Dr Drew Pinsky, an addiction specialist who appears in the documentary, explains on screen: “She had difficulty speaking [at the awards show], she had droopy eyelids, she was unsteady on her feet… not normal for a woman who is otherwise healthy at her age. The behavior at the Golden Globes was consistent with someone on a lot of substance.
“We have information that may explain why her heart suddenly stopped beating,” TMZ producer Charles Latibeaudière said. “Lisa had lost 40-50 pounds in just six weeks…We were also told she was back on opioids.” Presley would have liked to watch his best for awards season, to portray his father’s Oscar-nominated biopic, “Elvis.”
“The fact that she gets up and goes to the Golden Globes…good for her,” Pinsky says in the doc. “I wish someone had sounded the alarm, though, based on how she looks.”
Priscilla enters the legal fray: “Tense relationship”
Lisa Marie Presley reportedly had a strained relationship with her mother, Priscilla, dating back to her teenage years.
At this time, Priscilla was involved with the Church of Scientology. Former Scientologist Karen De La Carriere told documentarians she remembered the tense feelings between the two.
“Lisa with a long, miserable face…came out of the limo, and I heard Priscilla say, ‘Deal with her! ‘” recalls De La Carriere.
The couple put on a unified show at the Golden Globes days before Presley died, and Priscilla spoke lovingly about her only child at the Lisa Marie memorial – but a source says it was all for show.
Priscilla is now contesting her daughter’s will, which a source told Page Six is simply “a cash grab”.
“She had no relationship with Priscilla, Michael Lockwood or her half-brother. [Navarone Garibaldi]“, she said.
As stated earlier, Priscilla is challenging an amendment in his late daughter’s trust, alleging fraud.
Mystery of money: life insurance policies, family battle on the horizon
According to hit documentaries First published by The Blast website, Presley was “in debt”, having squandered the $100 million she inherited from her father. But the new doctor claims she took out up to three life insurance policies before her death. As a result, she reportedly left $35 million to split between her three children – the twins and Riley Keough.
“Lisa was never disciplined about money,” said document producer Katie Hayes. “She was spending a lot and she made bad investments. She’s spent roughly $100 million in 25 years.
Latibeaudière added, “We learned that at the time of Lisa’s death she had a debt of $4 million, including $2.5 million still owed to the IRS… But we found out that on the day of his death, Lisa’s estate was suddenly filled with money. .”
Elvis Presley’s famous Graceland estate would be equally divided between Riley Keough and her younger stepsisters.
Meanwhile, the special is also expected to cover other major life events such as Presley’s marriage to Michael Jackson.
“TMZ Investigates: Lisa Marie Presley: Unending Tragedy,” premieres Monday, Jan. 30, on Fox (8 p.m.).