Riley Keough has slammed her grandmother, Priscilla Presley, for her “hurtful” behavior in the wake of Lisa Marie’s death, according to legal documents obtained by Globe.
On Wednesday, September 3, Priscilla’s former business associates, Brigitte Kruse and Kevin Fialko, submitted a typed letter they claim Keough sent to Priscilla as part of an amended complaint in their $50 million lawsuit against Elvis’ former wife, 80.
The letter is an email sent to Priscilla on January 31, 2023, a source tells Globe.
“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,” reads the email, which Kruse and Fialko claim was written by Keough, 36, “shortly after Lisa’s death.”
Superior Court of California
“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 the people to court,” the email continues, revealing that Elvis’ first wife and daughter had been estranged since a “falling out” in 2016.
“Even a few weeks before my mother passed she wanted to sue you again and you called me for help,” the email reads.
“My mother very loudly and clearly asserted to many people, including you, that she felt you had financially and personally betrayed her,” the Daisy Jones & The Six actress allegedly wrote.
Lisa Marie, the sole heir to Elvis’ fortune, died on January 12, 2023 at age 54 after going into cardiac arrest. Kruse and Fialko have accused Priscilla of “pulling the plug” on her daughter before Keough could even get to the hospital.
Priscilla then launched a legal challenge, contesting the “authenticity and validity” of a 2016 amendment Lisa Marie made to remove her and appointed Riley and her late brother, Ben, trustees instead.
“I must also share with you that I found being called about the will, less than 24 hours after my mother passed and getting emails from lawyers before my mother was even buried incredibly heartbreaking,” Keough’s alleged email reads.
“You must know that this chosen path can only further estrange our family which is really sad.”
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Keough and her grandmother eventually reached a settlement, with Priscilla getting a $1 million lump sum, as well as $100,000 a year to be a special advisor to Keough. (According to a separate complaint Kruse and Fialko filed against Priscilla’s son, Navarone Garcia, Garcia also got a “seven-figure” piece of the trust, despite not being related to Elvis.)
Before the amended complaint was filed, Priscilla’s lawyer, Marty Singer, vehemently denied Kruse and Fialko’s allegations in a statement. “This is, without a doubt, one of the most shameful, ridiculous, salacious, and meritless lawsuits I have seen in my practice,” he said, per The New York Times.
Keough “stands behind [Priscilla] 100 percent,” he added, “and is equally disgusted with this latest, vicious attempt by Kruse to attempt to ruin her grandmother’s life.”
UPDATE — Priscilla’s lawyer, Martin D. Singer, tells Globe in a statement:
“Priscilla did not have anything to do with the assassination of JFK, she did not cover up Area 51, she did not fake the moon landing, and she is not secretly keeping Bigfoot locked in a cabin in Canada. Take off the aluminum foil hat and face reality. This lawsuit concerns Ms. Presley’s claims against Ms. Kruse (and her co-conspirators) in which she alleges that Ms. Kruse engaged in a relentless and calculated campaign of elder abuse and fraud in order to take control of Ms. Presley’s finances for her own benefit. Ms. Kruse’s allegations are absurd and despicable, but unfortunately, are not surprising. Ms. Presley looks forward to holding Ms. Kruse and her co-conspirators liable for their wrongful acts.”