Growing up behind the gates of Neverland, Michael Jackson’s three children were never going to have an ‘ordinary’ life, but losing their father in 2009 and the intense scrutiny of his life ever since, has inevitably complicated the grief of his daughter and two sons.
In the 15 years since the King Of Pop’s passing, Prince, 27, Paris, 26, and Blanket, 22, who now goes by the name Bigi, have had to navigate the difficulties of life in the public eye, while questions continue to swirl about their father’s life and legacy – most notably the allegations of child abuse that have never gone away.
Prince and Paris, were born to Jackson’s then-wife Debbie Rowe, while Blanket was born via artificial insemination with an anonymous surrogate mother, and all grew up with Jackson as their only parental figure.
The three children spent much of their formative years at the singer’s Neverland ranch as he sought to shield them from the public eye, and were home-schooled.
This week, Paris revealed she battled a secret heroin addiction and spiralled into a dark depression which left her suicidal in the aftermath of her father’s death at his Los Angeles mansion at age 50 from a drug-related cardiac arrest.
While Paris has been the most open about her struggles, there’s no doubt that her two brothers have also had difficulties forging their own paths in the wake of their father’s death.
Michael Jackson’s death had a huge impact on fans all over the world – but no-one was affected more than his three children;P rince, 27, Paris, 26, and Bigi, 22 (pictured last year)
In the 15 years since the King Of Pop’s passing, the three children have all faced the scrutiny of growing up in the public eye and battled addiction and court battles
After Michael’s death, his mother Katherine became the legal guardian of his children.
Their cousin TJ Jackson was later given emergency temporary custody of the trio after Katherine was reported missing in 2012 – only to later claim she had taken a trip to a spa. TJ was later appointed sole guardian.
The family have been in a near constant war over his $2 billion fortune, with Bigi filing a lawsuit last year to prevent his grandmother from using the family’s money to fight an ongoing legal battle.
Paris
Paris has spoken openly about the impact of being Michael’s daughter and this week revealed she became addicted to heroin
On Wednesday, Paris showed her sobriety coin marking five years of being clean
Paris has previously discussed her problems with drug abuse and depression. She revealed she had attempted suicide ‘multiple times’ (pictured in 2012 with Prince and Bigi)
Paris has spoken openly about the impact of being Michael’s daughter and this week revealed she became addicted to heroin.
The singer candidly admitted to an addiction with alcohol as well as the opioid drug while marking her sobriety with an empowering Instagram post.
‘hi, i’m pk and i’m an alcoholic and a heroin addict,’ she wrote.
‘today marks 5 years clean & sober from all drugs and alcohol. to say that i’m thankful would be a poor euphemism. gratitude hardly scratches the surface. it’s because i’m sober that i get to smile today.
‘i get to make music. i get to experience the joy of loving my dogs and cat. i get to feel heartbreak in all it’s glory. i get to grieve. i get to laugh. i get to dance. i get to trust. i feel the sun on my skin and it’s warm. i’ve found that life keeps happening regardless of whether i’m sober or not, but today i get to show up for it.
‘here’s a little snapshot of what has been possible because of my sobriety, and my god i can’t believe i almost missed it all.’ (sic).
Paris has previously discussed her problems with drug abuse and depression and revealed several of her tattoos conceal both track marks from drug use and self-harm scars
Paris has previously discussed her problems with drug abuse and depression, and told Rolling Stone in 2017 that several of her tattoos conceal both track marks from drug use and self-harm scars.
She revealed she had attempted suicide ‘multiple times’ and then went on to study at a therapeutic school in Utah, which she said was ‘great’ for her.
‘I’m a completely different person,’ she said. ‘I was crazy. I was actually crazy. I was going through a lot of, like, teen angst. And I was also dealing with my depression and my anxiety without any help,’ she added.
The Rolling Stone article noted at the time she was ‘sober and happier than she’s ever been’ and only caved into menthol cigarettes.
She also denied reports of she returned to rehab in 2018 after singer Demi Lovato was hospitalised for a drug overdose.
‘ummm no?? I haven’t gone to a clinic.. someone doesn’t have to almost die for me to know to be healthy, I’ve already had friends OD and die. that’s enough for me,’ she tweeted.
In 2019, Paris spoke out about her decision to not speak out about new allegations of sexual, emotional and mental abuse made about her father in the documentary Leaving Neverland.
Habit has been making waves before it’s even released, with a Change.org petition protesting the film racking up more than 260,000 signatures
Now sober, Paris is in a happier place and announced her engagement to Justin Long, her bandmate, last month
In 2019, Paris spoke out about her decision to not speak out about new allegations of sexual, emotional and mental abuse made about her father in the documentary Leaving Neverland.
The film focused on the accounts of Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who have long claimed that they were raped and molested by the singer at his Neverland Ranch.
Michael denied all allegations that he abused underage boys during his lifetime, and his estate has done the same in the decade since his death.
In a series of Twitter posts, she wrote: ‘[T]here’s nothing I can say that hasn’t already been said in regards to defense. Michael Jackson’s [nephew] Taj is doing a perfect job on his own. And I support him’.
‘[B]ut that’s not my role. I’m just tryna get everyone to chill out and go with the flow, be mellow and think about the bigger picture. That’s me.’
A follow-up documentary on Leaving Neverland is said to be in the works.
In 2020, Paris came under fire over the announcement she was to a play a ‘lesbian Jesus’ in the a film called Habit.
A Change.org petition was created to stop the film which racked up more than 300,000 signatures.
The petition’s founder, Vivian N., called Habit, ‘a new blasphemous Hollywood film’ and slammed it for portraying Jesus as ‘a lesbian woman’.
Vivian’s statement read, ‘A new blasphemous Hollywood film is predicted to come out soon depicting Jesus as a lesbian woman.’
‘The film “Habit” stars Paris Jackson who plays the role of “lesbian Jesus”.’
Despite the furore, the film was released in August 2021.
Now sober, Paris is in a happier place and announced her engagement to Justin Long, her bandmate, last month.
The model revealed she is set to marry the 5 Seconds of Summer music producer in an Instagram post where she she shared a sweet snap of the proposal and a montage of their time together.
Paris posted the news while paying tribute to Justin – nicknamed Blue – on his birthday.
She wrote: ‘Happy birthday my sweet blue. doing life with you these last years has been an indescribable whirlwind and i couldn’t dream of anyone more perfect for me to do it all with. thank you for letting me be yours. i love you. [sic]’
Bigi (formally named Blanket)
The family have been in a near constant war over his $2 billion fortune, with Bigi filing a lawsuit last year to prevent his grandmother from using the family’s money to fight a legal battle
Michael’s s mother Katherine became the legal guardian of his children. He’s seen with her and his siblings with Justin Bieber in 2012
Bigi was embroiled in scandal almost immediately after his birth. At only nine months old, he became the center of controversy after his dad held him over the edge of a balcony (seen)
In 2003, just one year after Bigi was born, Michael was charged with seven counts of child sexual abuse. He’s seen at the trial in 2005
During the trial and the years that followed, Michael did his best to shield Bigi, as well as his other kids, from the public eye, covering their faces with masks or pieces of fabric
Last March, Michael’s children made their first public appearance as a trio in over a decade at a preview of MJ: The Musical at the Prince Edward Theatre in London.
Paris and Prince regularly turn out for events – but Blanket is rarely seen with them. and may have last joined his brother and sister on a red carpet as long ago as 2012.
Michael’s reclusive son even changed his name – ditching the moniker ‘Blanket’ and going as ‘Bigi’ instead.
Bigi has tended to prefer a low profile since his childhood, letting his older brother and sister take the limelight.
Blanket – born Prince Michael Jackson II – was dangled over a balcony at Berlin’s Adlon Hotel in 2002 at the tender age of nine months as the singer got ‘caught up in the moment’ as he waved to fans.
Born on February 21 2002, he was given the unusual nickname at a young age by Jackson, who once said: ‘It’s an expression I use with my family and my employees.
‘I say, “You should blanket me, you should blanket her with something,” meaning, like, a blanket is a blessing. It’s a way of showing love and caring.’
Bigi’s childhood was shrouded in secrecy and scandal – as his father’s sexual abuse accusations dominated headlines throughout much of his upbringing.
In 2003, just one year after Bigi was born, a man named Gavin Arvizo accused Michael of molesting him when he was 13 years old, and the hitmaker was charged with seven counts of child sexual abuse and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent to commit a child sexual abuse felon.
Michael had previously been accused of child sexual abuse in 1993 by someone named Jordan Chandler, but they settled out of court.
The trial began in 2005 and lasted four months, and every aspect was covered by the media, sparking an even bigger interest into Michael’s personal life, which included his relationship with his three children.
The musician denied the allegations and was acquitted on all counts in June 2005, but his reputation was already tarnished.
During the trial and the years that followed, Michael did his best to shield Bigi, as well as his other kids, from the public eye.
Whenever he would step out in public with them, he would often cover their faces with masks or pieces of fabric.
Michael passed away on June 25, 2009 – when Bigi was seven – and for the first time in his life, the world got a clear look at his face when he attended the memorial service
Since they were homeschooled and hardly ever went out due to the paparazzi, the three kids spent almost all of their time at Michael’s now-infamous Neverland ranch in California
The estate was a dream for kids – filled with rides, toys, and even a zoo – but Paris has insisted that she and her siblings didn’t get to partake in the fun as much as some may think
He worked tirelessly to try to protect them from the media storm surrounding him, but the efforts for anonymity only fueled the world’s intrigue into pop sensation’s mysterious offspring.
In 2015, Blanket shed the nickname that he’d had for his whole life and started going by Bigi instead.
After his father’s death, he was tutored at home and was rarely seen in public. He now lives about ten minutes from his grandmother’s house after looking for freedom.
He has since developed a passion for film – inspired by his older brother’s university course at Loyola Marymount, in Los Angeles.
Passionate about what goes on behind the camera, he is now said to have designs on getting involved in Hollywood, developing his own ideas and scripts.
Against his best efforts, Bigi was thrown back into the spotlight after it was revealed that he had become embroiled in legal battle with his grandmother and former guardian, Katherine.
According to a report from TMZ last year, the pair battled an undisclosed issue in court.
Katherine appealed against a plan to sell off publishing rights to Jackson’s back catalogue – and wanted the singer’s estate to pay her legal fees in the dispute.
The youngest Jackson had maintained his grandmother should pay her own legal costs, said to be around half a million US dollars, if she wished to contest the decision.
Bigi, Prince and Paris approved of a plan in 2023, proposed by the executors of Jackson’s estate, to sell publishing rights and recorded masters to Sony for a reported $600million.
Katherine is not a direct beneficiary of Jackson’s estate, instead receiving money from a sub trust created in the singer’s will.
In a filing obtained by People, Katherine maintained the estate, valued at $1.5 billion, can afford to pay her legal fees and should do so.
In court documents, lawyers acting for the youngest of MJ’s children said Katherine’s efforts to oppose the sale were an ‘extreme longshot’ and a ‘waste’ of resources.
Prince
Prince has struggled to escape being known as ‘Michael’s Jackson’s son’
The eldest son has struggled to step away from being a nepo-baby, with his Instagram page made up of posts referencing his famous father and family
Born in February 1997, eldest child Prince – full name Michael Joseph Jackson Jr – has famous godparents in the form of actors Macaulay Culkin and the late Elizabeth Taylor, both close friends of the King of Pop.
At the time of his birth, Michael said he felt ‘blessed beyond comprehension’ to have become a father.
But Prince has struggled to escape being known as ‘Michael’s Jackson’s son’.
The eldest son has struggled to step away from being a nepo-baby, with his Instagram page made up of posts referencing his famous father.
Prince studied for a business administration degree and co-founded a charity, Heal Los Angeles, supporting young people in inner city areas of the Californian metropolis.
These days, he keeps himself busy on YouTube, where he shares vlogs of his life.
‘I would like to think that he would be very proud,’ Prince said of his father at the time in an interview with Entertainment Tonight.
A source previously told MailOnline, that Prince has a ‘trust fund’ lifestyle and while he is polite and well-spoken and not an ‘LA brat’ thanks to his charity work, he lacks his father’s ‘drive’.
The insider said: ‘His home, cars, holidays and expenses are covered, meaning he can do as much or as little as he pleases.
‘He had a stint working for Entertainment Tonight, but ‘that simply whittled away as he had little to offer or create with them’…
‘He has been ‘working on scripts for a few years’ with an idea to produce or direct, but ‘in truth there is little noise about that now.
‘He had also looked at using his funding from the estate to ‘fund projects and act as a producer but that never happened’.
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