by Their father had a pet chimp named Bubbles, tried numerous cosmetic procedures, and hung one of them from a window as a child.
No one would have raised an eyebrow if Michael Jackson’s children turned out to be completely unreasonable people. Except, amazingly, recent evidence suggests otherwise. Have they said “Beat It” with Wacko Jacko’s curse?
It seems. This week, Jackson’s son, Michael Jackson II (aka Blanket, but now known as Bigi), 22, who was appointed through a surrogate, hit the news after being sued – but there are no allegations of criminal behavior. this one. or a showbiz scandal.
Instead, he is trying to protect his father’s legacy by opposing the estate’s executors, John Branca and John McClain’s, proposed sale of the Billie Jean singer’s back catalogue. It means that Bigi is also against his grandmother Katherine, 93 (Michael’s mother), but she was on before by him side of the question. She told the court that her son never wanted his catalog to be sold.
However, it’s hardly a situational thriller by celebrity standards, and certainly nothing like the hard life of The King of Pop, which included a tough childhood with his tough taskmaster dad. That combination of trauma and artistic triumph is on display in the Tony-winning Broadway musical MJwhich opened in the West End last week.
In contrast to all that drama, Bigi is rarely in the headlines – and that suits him just fine. He is the youngest of Jackson’s three children, and with those babies thrown out the window, he now keeps a very low profile. He has no social media presence at all (almost unheard of in 2024), and gives very few interviews.
In a rare conversation with Good morning Wales in November 2021, Bigi looked around the Michael Jackson memorial room. He said he and his siblings wanted to follow in their father’s footsteps by doing things that “people enjoy, but also benefit their lives”. The conscientious youngster spoke passionately about the climate crisis, noting: “Our generation knows how important it is.”
That attitude is the result of a normal childhood, albeit a tragic loss. The three siblings were first raised by their grandmother Katherine after Jackson’s death in 2009, and then by their older cousin TJ since 2012.
Interestingly, Bigi seems to be really close to his older brother Prince, 27, and his sister Paris, 25, who were both born to Jackson’s then-wife Debbie Rowe. said the Prince Good morning Wales that their father once told them: “We could have nothing, but you look around this room, at your brother, at your sister, and at me, that’s what you’ll have forever.”
Prince said: “That’s always stuck with my sisters and I, and we have such a close relationship. Every moment I get to spend with them is a special moment for me – any little family dinner, any family trip.”
Of course, they practice what they preach: in 2020, when Bigi turned 18, Paris posted three surprising withdrawal photos on her Instagram and added the caption: “Today my little brother is a legal adult. What the f—. I used to change his diapers. This is such a journey… Proud of the handsome, intelligent, insightful, funny and kind young man he is now. He likes privacy so I must say. [Happy birthday] lil bro.”
Prince also shared an Instagram story showing off their low-key birthday celebration at a Japanese restaurant in Los Angeles, Yamashiro. Bigi supported his big brother in turn: he was there for Prince’s graduation from Loyola Marymount University in 2019.
The two brothers shared a love of comic books and movies, and even recorded some reviews for their YouTube channel, Family movie. But this wasn’t about launching a brand or business; they both seem like fans, and like normal kids.
It’s not like their late father’s toxic relationship with his abusive brothers, some of whom never forgave Jackson for going it alone. Brother Jermaine even released a disc track – Word to the Member!! – with bold lyrics such as: “When you were made, you changed your shadow”.
Maybe that’s because the Jackson kids deliberately avoided megawatts – and all the pressures, demands and arguments that come with it.
Refreshingly for a nepo child, Prince took a hard look at the man in the mirror and soon realized that he was not blessed with creative talent. (His only acting appearance was in an episode of 90210in 2013, makes that clear.)
Instead, he got a business degree and now seems to fix things and ride motorcycles. He also co-founded the Heal Los Angeles charity, which partnered with a meal delivery service during the pandemic to get food to those in need.
Prince keeps it real in his personal life as well. He met his girlfriend Molly Schirmang at university, and the two have been together for seven years. “She likes the beach. I like the movies,” he said of their favorite date nights.
Paris is the only person to have inherited her father’s musical talents, but she has taken a different approach. After signing with Republic Records she quietly released an indie album, Wiltedin 2020. She described her single raw 2023 Band aid as influenced by Nirvana, the Pixies and the Smashing Pumpkins.
Paris had its struggles though. She attempted suicide several times before the age of 15, which subsequently left her with very low self-esteem.
But in 2019 she checked herself into a treatment facility and has been working on her fitness ever since – hopefully breaking the destructive pattern we saw play out in her father’s life.
She has also spoken openly about her choice between men and women (although she does not like precise labels such as “bisexuality”), while being sensitive about her “very religious” family.
She explained in 2021 that homosexuality was still a taboo subject, but said: “I respect them and I love them. I respect their faith. I respect their religion.”
A lot of people would relate to that kind of intergenerational compromise, and admire Paris for the way she’s handling herself when speaking about these hot-button issues.
It is far from other famous children, such as the Beckhams. Son Brooklyn has taken advantage of his parents’ fame to launch a number of dubious ventures, from a disastrous book of obscure photographs to his recent overpriced food delivery service – although he didn’t cook any of it himself.
Or how about the unfortunate Barney Walsh who tagged along with his father Bradley to present the reboot of the TV show Gladiators in a professional “Take your son to work day” sort of way? (Sorry, Barn – try Mom next.).
In contrast, it’s a miracle that the Jackson Three continue to lead independent lives and careers, seeing family as a support system instead of a professional path.
How do they feel about me? Oddly proud.
