Paris Jackson: I want to use my platform to make a difference

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As we’ve discussed a few times here, Paris Jackson is everywhere right now. Since she turned 18, she launched herself into the spotlight, collecting a modeling contract, acting gigs and a few magazine covers to promote her future plans – all without having actually produced anything yet. This whirlwind of exposure came immediately following a lifetime of seclusion within her family’s compound. I like Paris. I think she’s beautiful and it wouldn’t surprise me to find out she has talent in a variety of areas. I don’t disparage her trading on her surname to get her foot in the door(s). But I don’t know what to make of her latest comments. Paris gave an interview with Teen Vogue via text in which they discussed her careers, her social media and what she plans to do next. According to Paris, everything she does, all her modeling and acting, etc, is so she can change the world.

TV: I was wondering: Was this a conscious decision to step out more? And if so, what helped drive that decision?
PJ:  I honestly used to have no motivation whatsoever to be in the public eye; it scared me. I’ve seen what it can do to people, [and] plenty get hurt. But after a long time of thinking, I started to really see the kind of impact I already have on people, how I was born with a platform, and I didn’t want to waste it. There are so many people who work their entire lives to create a platform and mine was just handed to me…. Why not use it for something important? So many people right now are so focused on what kind of shoes this person has, the designer purse they carry, what car they drive, [or] whether they wear the same outfit more than once. I want to use my platform for something other than that. I want to actually make a difference. So everything that I’m doing—the acting, the modeling—it’s all just to grow my platform so I can use my voice for things that matter.

TV: I’m glad you’re using your position in this world for good.
PJ:  It’s my only purpose on this earth, I think.

TV: Since you’ve stepped out into the spotlight more, though, I ’m sure you’ve been through some ups and downs. What’s been a highlight for you recently?
PJ:  Well, it’s exactly that—bringing awareness to the not-so-pretty things going on in this world. I mean, you look at all these articles published [about] what is supposed to be “news,” and it’s all celebrity gossip. What I’m trying to do is show people the suffering that’s going on, the lies and manipulation, show them what is wrong and what we can do to fix it.

TV: Interesting. Have you had your own challenges with the media as you’ve become more of a public figure?
PJ:  Of course. The bigger the spotlight, the bigger the target. People can be really cruel. I’ve learned that no matter what you do, you will always receive some kind of ridicule for it. It doesn’t matter if your heart is in the right place—someone will always have a reason to hate you. But that being said, I’ve also learned that it really doesn’t matter and that as long as I follow my heart and continue trying to do what’s right, I’m on the right path.

TV: Who would be your dream musician to write for?
PJ:  Definitely Paul McCartney; he’s the love of my life. I actually already wrote a song I’d like him to sing, but it probs won’t happen.

TV: That’s interesting. It’s more of a personal project or an outlet, then?
PJ:  Both (:

[From Teen Vogue]

On the one hand, I appreciate Paris acknowledging that she was given a platform while others had to work to build theirs. I support anyone with an established voice using it for good. I just can’t reconcile that acting/modeling is the only way for her to speak out. She has gobs of money, she could have her own foundation. She could bankroll symposiums. I hate to be that person – but why isn’t she in school learning how to make a difference? That’s how her older brother, Prince, is doing it. Does Paris believe this? She hired a crew of managers and agents to put her name in lights and she wants us to believe her motivation was selfless? That’s a level of naiveté I’ve not heard from her before.

Paris’ interview appears in TV’s Music issue. In it, she said that, “Music is my number-one favorite form of expression; it’s gotten me through the toughest of times and the best of times.” However, she said in another answer, “But I really don’t plan on doing anything with my music,” which surprises me because I think music would be the biggest platform from which she could launch. But, I can’t get past her Paul McCartney responses. To me, they further expose her myopic version of the world. For anyone who doesn’t know, Paul befriended Paris father Michael and they recorded together, including a song for MJ’s Thriller album. During that time, Paul advised MJ that the real money was in publishing rights. With this advice, MJ went on to outbid Paul for the Beatles’ catalogue. Their relationship never recovered. Under The Copyright Act of 1976, Paul can recapture his songs next year, he doesn’t need the Jackson family anymore. Maybe Paul would consider forming a relationship with MJ’s kids but I highly doubt it will be anything musical. I guess, if Paris admires Paul that much, it means MJ didn’t portray himself as the victim in that particular story – so that’s nice.

Photo credit: Hedi Slimane/Teen Vogue, WENN Photos and Getty Images

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28 Responses to “Paris Jackson: I want to use my platform to make a difference”

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  1. Jem says:

    My issue here is that she is famous for being related to someone famous. She hasn’t done a damn thing worth noting yet. It’s just all talk. she needs to actually DO SOMETHING not just cash in on her father.

    • cate says:

      EXACTLY

    • Kdlaf says:

      yeah the amount of time being spent talking about how she WANTS to vaguely do something meaningful could be spent putting in the work FIRST even if its just attaching your name to an existing charity. Just do something! Had no idea Prince is doing good work though, and from that interview it seems like is relatively well adjusted and well spoken. Good for him.

      Who tf does Paris have advising her??

    • jwoolman says:

      She really does need more education. The right kind of university environment might give her better ideas about how to make a difference and also give her plenty of sounding boards that aren’t trying to get their hands on her money. She’s very young and lost time dealing with some pretty heavy problems. She needs more incubation time. Staying in a show biz environment may not be the best option for her, that will limit her in many different ways.

    • CMiddy says:

      Agree. Am getting so irritated by fashion houses etc pushing the whole sons-of / daughters-of thing. None of the kids exactly need the cash, and it means there is no chance of fresh new faces / talent. My law firm has instituted an anti-nepotism policy as of this week (i.e. no preferential treatment in hiring / internships for “friends and family”) – wish the fashion / entertainment industry could do something similar.

      • Lipreng says:

        That is amazing to hear! May I ask where you live? I wish that type of policy would be implemented across the board.

      • CMiddy says:

        Hi – sorry for late reply! London. This is starting to become increasingly common in the larger City law firms to encourage social mobility.

  2. littlemissnaughty says:

    Well, school isn’t for everybody. But neither is modeling. I don’t know, she’s 18 and grew up in her own world pretty much. Even when she struggled a few years ago (understandably) she was sent to some school in Utah where she probably discovered her hippie persona in a safe environment away from the drama. That’s great for her but an unbelievable luxury in and of itself. I don’t think she’s naive necessarily. She’s just … 18, rich and pretty. Or maybe that’s the same thing.

    Frankly, if Bella Hadid happened, why not Paris Jackson? Her face is incredible at least.

    • Kdlaf says:

      Bella models though…and is pretty good at it/worked a few years doing that before being taken seriously. Of course her name helped but shes at least doing something. I just dont get why Paris keeps talking about doing something and doesnt just, i dont know, do it? The only reason i can come up with is naivety and wanting to be famous but still “woke”.

  3. Kitty says:

    She is very annoying.

  4. minx says:

    I mean, I wish her well and all, but really….

  5. lala says:

    So when she says “I’m trying to show people the suffering that’s going on, the lies and manipulation, show them what is wrong and what we can do to fix it” I assume she means she has the receipts on Trump’s affairs with Russia 🙂

  6. astrid says:

    Not her fault she was born as Paris Jackson but I agree that somebody needs to pull her aside and get her educated and grounded into real world reality

    • MamaHoneyBadger says:

      Given the family’s long history, that’s highly unlikely.

      • Steph says:

        I think she has a lot of potential but it’s not using it in the right way. Thank god she has prince by her side.

  7. Francesca Love says:

    Well, she said “it’s all just to grow my platform so I can use my voice for things that matter.” so I think FOR NOW she will be doing this stuff to make herself PROPERLY established, and then she will use that platform to do some good, I think.

    I don’t like her or care for her, but she’s a KID, she will be talking crap for a loooong time, but hopefully she will do something meaninful with her time/money in the future!

  8. Beth says:

    What is she planning to do to make a difference? Does she have any ideas? Like many other rich kids born into famous families, she seems a little clueless. I think she’s bit annoying and confusing and I don’t understand why so many admire her. What’s so special about her? She’s regular looking and there’s nothing amazing about her

    • greenmonster says:

      That’s what I am missing too. There should have been a follow up question, asking her what she wants to change or how she exactly wants to use her platform.
      She wants to make a difference? Other 18 year olds volunteer to become aid workers or enroll college to become teachers or social workers or whatever if they want to make a difference. But sure becoming a model or actress to SPEAK about wanting to change things, without saying what you actually want to achieve, is also a way.

  9. WhichWitch says:

    I mean she was at the Met hanging out in the bathroom smoking with all the other nepotism models, so at this point, other than her having a more edgy look, I don’t see how she’s different from the others.

    • Bobbysue says:

      Ah, if only to again bask in unbearable lightness emanating from the Sweet Bird of Yoots’s tortured crappola.

  10. Bobbysue says:

    Imagine all the people
    . sharing life in peace, yoo-hoo-ooo;
    You may say I’m a dreamer,
    . but I’m not the only one;
    I hope one day you’ll join up
    . and the world will live as one.

  11. sirokese says:

    …….I mean, you look at all these articles published [about] what is supposed to be “news,” and it’s all celebrity gossip…….

    I am wondering what kind of news she is reading.

    Ok, she is only 19 and doesn´t have much of an education/development and claiming that acting and modeling are the means for a platform to focus on things that matter (whatever that means) seems so delusional and privileged.

    • Bobbysue says:

      I imagine the Sean Lennon Jayden Smith Society to Harness Wild Duck Flatulence will want to study her brain.

  12. serena says:

    She’s so stunning. As for the rest, I just hope she’d REALLY use her platform for something good in the future, after getting her name more out there.

  13. AsIf says:

    this girl confuses me…so first she was modelling. then she was taking acting classes and had a movie coming out (?) and now she’s a singer-songwriter….

  14. Bee says:

    Delusion. Simply a child who thinks they know things, but knows nothing. If she wants to change the world, she going about it completely wrong.

  15. raincoaster says:

    I find it interesting, and a fail, that the reporter apparently did not ask her exactly WHAT kind of difference she hoped to make. There’s a big difference between “I’d love to see Richard Spencer as Prince Regent for Barron” and “I’d like to save the whales”.

  16. adastraperaspera says:

    Does anyone know her net worth? And is she in control of that money now she is over 18, or is it still in trust? I have a feeling her publicity lately is due to money flowing now. That would draw the executives, agents and industry people to her like flies to honey. Not saying she is necessarily being pushed into the spotlight, but really if money is under her control, then all this attention is most likely coming from industry speculators seeking to monetize her. I think it’s sad.