Riley Keough, daughter of Lisa Marie Presley and granddaughter of Priscilla Presley, has penned a deeply emotional letter amid the ongoing legal battle following her mother’s tragic death. In the wake of Lisa Marie’s passing in January 2023, the Presley family has found themselves embroiled in a contentious lawsuit, with Riley now forced to defend her mother’s wishes publicly and legally.
Lisa Marie Presley, the only child of Elvis Presley, died of cardiac arrest at the age of 54. Since her death, Priscilla Presley, her mother, has been locked in a legal dispute with Lisa Marie’s former business partners, who allege that she prematurely withdrew life support for financial gain. They accuse Priscilla of trying to control the trust and Graceland estate that was passed down to her daughter after Elvis’s death in 1977. Priscilla’s attorneys have vehemently denied these allegations, calling them “shameful” and “meritless.”
Riley Keough’s letter, now made public in the amended lawsuit, reveals a deeply strained relationship between the two women, adding to the tension surrounding the estate. In the letter, Riley writes, “Unfortunately Nona, as you are taking me to court, I am being forced to defend my mother’s wishes legally and publicly, which would not have been my choice.”
She continues, expressing the emotional toll of the legal dispute: “It is really hurtful that after years of me trying to resolve your and my mother’s broken relationship and restore our family, you are taking me, of all people, to court.”
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The lawsuit follows on from Lisa Marie’s death in 2023 (Michael Tran/FilmMagic)
Riley also sheds light on the complex family dynamics, revealing that Lisa Marie had wanted to take legal action against Priscilla shortly before her death, but Riley advised against it. She writes, “I have protected you from lawsuits from my mother, often advocating for you and always tried to keep everyone operating out of love.”
Riley’s letter also emphasizes the emotional toll the legal battle has taken, revealing that she was inundated with emails from lawyers less than 24 hours after her mother’s death and before her mother had even been laid to rest. “It was incredibly heartbreaking,” Riley stated.
The lawsuit filed by Priscilla’s former business partners also accuses her of fraud, misappropriation of name and likeness, and interference with contracts. They describe Priscilla as a “calculated sociopath” who has “exploited the Presley name for her own personal gain.”
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Riley and Priscilla snapped last year (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
In response to the claims, Priscilla’s attorney, Marty Singer, has called the accusations “malicious character assassination” and denied all allegations. He also ridiculed the conspiracy theories surrounding Priscilla’s involvement in larger historical events, adding, “Priscilla did not have anything to do with the assassination of JFK… she is not secretly keeping Bigfoot locked in a cabin in Canada.”
As the legal battle continues, it’s clear that Riley’s heartbreak over her mother’s passing is compounded by the ongoing family drama and the pressure to defend her mother’s legacy.
Featured Image Credit: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic