Summary: Former astronaut Buzz Aldrin is suing two of his kids and a former business manager.
Buzz Aldrin famously was the second man to step foot on the moon, but now something troubling is in his earthly orbit–two of his children.
According to NBC News, the former moonwalker is suing two of his kids and a former business manager. He said they stole money from his bank account, misused his credit cards, and slandered him by saying he has dementia.
The Apollo 11 astronaut filed a lawsuit earlier this month in Florida and asked to stop his son, Andrew Aldrin, from controlling his finances, social media accounts, and businesses. Andrew had been a trustee of Buzz’s trust, and Buzz accused him of misusing his power.
“Specifically, defendant Andrew Aldrin, as trustee, does not inform plaintiff of pending or future business transactions, removes large sums of monies from plaintiffs accounts, and continues to represent plaintiff in business and social capacities despite plaintiff’s repeated requests for such representations to be terminated,” the lawsuit said.
Buzz also said that his daughter Janice was acting in conspiracy with Andrew and Christina Korp, a former business manager. Buzz said the three were working to commit fraud and exploit him.
“Defendant Andrew Aldrin and Defendant Christina Korp have been for the past number of years been slandering Plaintiff in public and/or to other individuals or small groups by stating Plaintiff has Dementia and Alzheimer’s,” Buzz’s suit said. “Defendants have used this tactic to gain further control over Plaintiff’s personal relationships, business contacts and assets.”
Buzz, 88, also sued numerous businesses and nonprofits that his family members managed on his behalf.
Andrew and Janice Aldrin issued a statement that their father’s lawsuit saddened them.
“If nothing else, our family is resilient and our ability to work together to solve problems and accomplish great things is strong,” Andrew and Janice said. “We love and respect our father very much and remain hopeful that we can rise above this situation and recover the strong relationship that built this foundation in the first place.”
Buzz appeared on Good Morning America and said it was his two children who had broken his heart.
“I really felt that it really didn’t need to come to this,” Buzz said. “It’s the saddest thing that ever happened in my family. But as I’ve seen, family is forever and I will forever be trying to patch it up.”
Last month, Andrew and Janice filed a petition in Florida, asking to be their father’s guardian because he had become paranoid and confused, according to ABC News.
“The alleged incapacitated person suffers from cognitive decline,” the petition had said. “This cognitive decline has resulted in loss of memory, confusion, general delusions, paranoia, and unusual behavior. He is now associating with new acquaintances who appear to be manipulating him with false information to their own benefit and his detriment.”