Pamela Warner has spoken out about her daughter-in-law’s legal action over her late son, Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s, estate.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s mom is “focused on protecting” her late son’s legacy.
The Cosby Show actor accidentally drowned while on vacation in Costa Rica in July 2025, and after Tenisha Warner – who married the late star in 2022 and has a nine-year-old daughter, MacKenzie with him – filed two lawsuits against his mother Pamela Warner last month, seeking $1.2 million she claimed to be owed, the matriarch has spoken out to deny she has left her granddaughter without financial support.
In her lawsuit, Tenisha has claimed she is owed $1 million in life insurance obligations, $50,542.46 for anniversary payment obligations, $30,500 for a ROTH IRA obligation, and a $195,000 salary obligation for her employment as Malcolm’s “chief of staff”,and one of her friends recently set up a GoFundMe campaign to help support her and MacKenzie.
A statement issued on behalf of Pamela, who serves as successor trustee of her son’s Warner Family Trust, read: “On behalf of Pamela Warner, Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s mother and lifelong business manager, we share the following to address the recent saddening public statements by Tenisha Warner.
“Pamela continues to grieve the sudden loss of her son, Malcolm. She remains focused on protecting his legacy and the well-being of his daughter and family.
“Recent claims that Pamela sought to prevent her granddaughter from receiving financial support are untrue.
“Malcolm was thoughtful and deliberate in his estate planning to include all his loved ones. While the trust at issue is in favor of Pamela, his father, and his sister, Malcolm provided for his wife and daughter separate and apart from that trust to the tune of millions of dollars.”
The statement claimed Pamela had initially tried to handle the matter out of court.
“Following Malcolm’s passing, Pamela attempted to resolve these matters privately. When litigation was initiated, courts in Georgia and California appointed guardians ad litem to represent Malcolm’s daughter.”
And she said she has reached a settlement with MacKenzie’s representatives, though it hasn’t yet been signed off by the court.
The statement added: “The agreement provides for Malcolm’s daughter to receive the majority remainder of the Trust and Estate.
“The Settlement also memorializes that it is in the best interest of Malcolm’s daughter to have a relationship with her grandmother, Pamela.
“Pamela remains hopeful that all parties will support the resolution and that her granddaughter will receive the full benefit of Malcolm’s legacy without further delay.”
Tenisha had argued she is entitled to the money according to a pre-marital agreement.
She claimed in the first of her two lawsuits, which was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on 17 July: “Malcolm provided for his family during his lifetime, and intended to provide for them in the event of his death. Unfortunately, Malcolm’s intent has been thwarted by an outdated revocable trust, the Warner Family Trust, dated October 7, 1996.”
The Trust divides the actor’s estate between his mother, father, and half-sister, which “effectively disinherits his nine-year-old daughter, MacKenzie, and his widow, Tenisha, from the entirety of the 1996 Trust, and leaves them without adequate financial support… This was not Malcolm’s intent.”
A second lawsuit was filed on the one-year anniversary of Malcolm’s death in DeKalb County, Georgia, where he lived, and alleged breach of contract against Pamela in her capacity as trustee of her son’s estate, and requested a declaratory judgment to settle the ongoing dispute.
Tenisha has insisted her husband “had every intention” to provide for her and their daughter before his death and had sought to make a new plan for his estate before his death at the age of 54, but was ultimately “unable to do so before we lost him”.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s mom breaks silence after being sued by his widow
