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As I’ve watched the truth intensify after the release of the Michael Jackson abuse allegations in Leaving Neverland, there’s one thing I can’t help but think about. Well, three things actually; Jackson’s children, Prince Michael, 22, Paris, 20, and Blanket Jackson, 17.
In particular the singer’s only daughter, Paris. She’s been devastated by the allegations against her legendary father.
Paris was only 11-years-old when her father died by medication-related homicide. Now, a decade later, a documentary has been released, telling the story of Wade Robson, 36, and James Safechuck, 40, who allege that Jackson began sexually abusing them at ages seven and 10, respectively.
But Paris is having none of it. In a series of Tweets this week, she’s defended her dad.
Jackson’s alleged victims have a right to speak, and be believed. But that doesn’t mean the details – their truth – would be easy for his children to hear.
Deep down inside, in her quiet, private moments, Paris might have had tiny seeds of doubt. She might have had times when she wondered if there’s more to the man who was the King of Pop – and the king of her world.
But it’s clear where Paris’ loyalty lies, especially in what she sees as the absence of definitive proof.
This week, as a Jackson fan, I feel crushed. I feel like this is his second death. I’m remembering how so much of my childhood, youth, and life is tied to the singer and his music.
If I feel like this – if I feel devastated learning of another side to a person I idolised – what must be the impact on Paris?
This is a fact: without a court trial, we will never have a legal verdict on Jackson’s culpability. What’s less certain is whether Michael Jackson’s reputation and legacy will survive in the eyes of the world.
But it seems it will most certainly live on in the eyes of his only daughter.
Listen to The Quicky, Mamamia’s daily news podcast, discuss the Michael Jackson allegations.
If you’d like to hear more from Nama Winston, see her stories here, and subscribe to her weekly Mamamia Parents newsletter here.
Read more on this topic:
Without us noticing, it looks like Michael Jackson groomed us for decades.
The signs Michael Jackson was grooming the children he was close to that so many missed.
“It wasn’t going to mean anything”: Why Michael Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley.
‘Blanket’ Jackson was just seven when his father died. This week he stopped talking.
The two boys who followed Wade Robson into Michael Jackson’s bed insist they weren’t abused.
Debbie Rowe says she gifted Michael Jackson two children because he was a ‘wonderful man’.
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Top Comments
I really wish people wouldn’t expect his kids to comment. If the allegations are true (I’m sure they are) they are also victims. Asking someone to publicly denounce their own father who they never even had the chance to form an adult opinion on is pretty rough- we don’t usually demand that the family of criminals apologise for them. Staying silent is really the only thing they can do but people just keep trying to either guilt her to defend her father or apologise for him.
Problem for Paris Jackson is that her living is based on being the daughter of Michael Jackson. Unlike her other two siblings (particularly the eldest, who is less in the limelight and pursues interests and education independent of his family connections), she's basically built her whole house on her father's name and without it, she's got nothing. She has to talk about him, because that's what keeps her relevant. She's hitched her wagon to poisonous connections, and seemingly has not Plan B.
She’s trying not to though, but being hounded by die hard fans that demand she attacks the victims as liars. Yes I agree her career is based on that connection but she’s probably very aware that this documentary is going to end it, but she never had a choice about being Paris Jackson, she didn’t choose her connections. I don’t exactly feel sorry for her on the career front because she’s swimming in money but I think staying quiet is the only thing she can do, and she doesn’t deserve both sides of the argument (crazy fans and those who support the victims) attacking her in relation to what has to be a brutal personal situation.
Yeah, I agree - the die-hard MJ stans are totally delusional nut jobs. Paris is unfortunately fairly swept-up in the whole Jackson machine - which is itself a part of the propaganda machine that the stans support. Whilst the stans are pushing hard to protect the legacy of MJ, the Jacksons as a business are the ones who have the most to lose if the true nature of MJ's behaviour is understood and disseminated. At this point, those kids do need to choose their connections - and it would seem nothing but poison comes from associating with that family.