As thousands of fans gathered to celebrate Michael Jackson’s life, his ex-wife Debbie Rowe opted to stay put at her home in Palmdale, California on Tuesday (July 7).

The mother of Michael’s children was spotted out tending to her horses, as she decided to skip out on the Staples Center tribute at the last minute.

Meanwhile, Miss Rowe is expected to seem in court later that month as she fights for custody of

With many opposed to her decision to battle for the children, family friend Frank Cascio recently voiced his thoughts that the court should honor Jackson’s last will and grant custody to his mother Katherine Jackson.

“Those kids need to be with Katherine and the family,” Cascio told “Good daylight America”. “That’s who they need to be with. Not with Debbie.”

Original post by http://www.gossipgirls.com