All week, we’ve been talking about the Leaving Neverland documentary about Michael Jackson and the men who have described his abuse when they were boys. We’ve also discussed Paris Jackson and her alleged reactions to the documentary. The Sun claimed that Paris was worried about her career, and sources told People Magazine that she hasn’t seen the documentary but she doesn’t believe the accusers. Well, Paris seems to have tweeted-and-deleted a message yesterday:
Paris Jackson has a message for tabloids. The 20-year-old daughter of the late Michael Jackson took to Twitter on Wednesday to dispel reports that she’s made an official statement regarding the controversial Leaving Neverland documentary. Paris called out a Gay Star News tweet that stated, “Paris Jackson believes her father, Michael, is innocent of sex abuse claims.”
“I actually haven’t made any statements yet, especially regarding how it affects my work life,” Paris tweeted, adding. “You guys are reaching a bit. At least this wasn’t a disgusting and attacking article though.” She followed up the tweet with another, writing, “Y’all take my life more seriously than I do. Calm yo tittaaaaysss.”
She ended up following up that last one with a message where she wrote “I know injustices are frustrating and it’s easy to get worked up. but reacting with a calm mind usually is more logical than acting out of rage and also…. it feels better to mellow out.” When someone replied, “The bigger picture is your father’s legacy ruined and his name smeared forever but whatever though.” Which… gross. It’s not like it’s only just NOW that anyone has ever heard anything about MJ. Paris ended up tweeting back to the same woman, who was arguing that people are trying to “tear down” MJ’s legacy, with this: “yeah they do that to everyone with a good heart and tries to make a dfference but do you really think that it’s possible to tear his name down ? like do you truly believe they stand a chance ? relax and have peace.”
I don’t have anything else to say about this stuff – I think it’s ill-advised for Paris to even be tweeting anything about this, but I guess I’m glad she clarified where she is. And clearly, she doesn’t believe her father’s victims. Take that as you will.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
What’s up with the other kids? Are they just hanging out, happy to stay out of the limelight? I mean – I’m sure they’re going through a lot with all of this, but I haven’t heard anything about either of the boys saying anything.
I mean, it’s ‘fine’ for her to struggle to accept what’s going on – I don’t think many people wouldn’t struggle to have a parent who did these kinds of horrendous things. She was also probably extremely sheltered when it came to past accusations. I get that it’s difficult for her to accept that someone she loved could also be a monster. BUT at the same time – she needs to keep the commentary to herself. If she’s going to speak out – do it in a way that’s not disrespectful to the victims. Something like “I haven’t made any public statements. Please understand that the documentary is something difficult for me to process and respect my siblings and my own right privacy at this time”.
That said – his names been tarnished forever. I’m a 90’s kid. As long as I can remember it was a well known fact that MJ was a creep. Obviously I didn’t understand just HOW creepy he was when I was a kid – but at the very least I knew he had molested children. It was a constant joke in popculture, it was impossible to NOT hear about at least on some level. I’ve legitimately grown up ONLY knowing him as an abuser. Do I think some of his songs were amazing? Sure. But I also never leaned into the whole obsessive fan culture when it came to MJ because I KNEW he was an abuser. And I don’t understand how anyone in my age group would have been able to ignore that. It was EVERYWHERE. People that grew up loving the music and not hearing the accusations until later – I’d imagine it’d be harder to accept. But I don’t understand how anyone under 30/35 can turn a blind eye to this garbage.
once again, I agree with your whole comment – and your third paragraph completely describes my feelings and reality. I’m a 1989 baby and my entire experience of Michael Jackson was that he was a super creepy individual who molested boys and was kind of washed up but had been a major success in he decades before and made some fun music. to me, his name had ALWAYS been tarnished and a bit of a joke.
I think both of the boys choose to remain more or less out of the public eye, which I think would probably have been a healthier option for Paris.
I’m 39 and grew up knowing he was an abuser. it’s not a millenial thing. I believe it’s similar to R kelly disputes… ( aliyah and him were common knowledge) some people are just delusional naysayers.
@erinn thanks so much for that last paragraph. That’s EXACTLY what I’ve been feeling this whole time. I was born in 1996 and my first big memory of MJ was of him dangling the baby at the hotel balcony. I grew up with the image of him being a creep and until this week I thought it was common sense he was an abuser. I was shocked to see how many people actually believe he’s innocent. I just watched the first part of the doc and it just left me thinking about how many people knew about that and enabled him to do it. Why didn’t people find at least utterly bizarre his relationship with those boys? I get that the families and people from the inside could be so trapped into that magic fairy tale and not be able to see it but the public in general? I don’t know maybe because I wasn’t born when he was THE Michael Jackson I will never understand why he got a pass for all those (to say the least) weird behaviours
This is uncharted territory, even for people who have lived longer than 20 years out in the real world. And she’s trying to make a career happen with just the Jackson name but none of the Jackson talent, as far as I can tell. Is anyone guiding her through any of this?
It’s absolutely uncharted territory. Victims were shunned. If you were victimized in the 90s, people expected you to just take it and move on. R Kelly’s daughter and MJ’s daughter have others to look to who have been through it. They just aren’t famous. R Kelly’s daughter was called out and she posted a heartbreaking message about not having seen him in years because she “lived in that house” and knew what her father was. It’s all very sad.
Why do people “call out” the children of abusers? That is insane to me. It is not their responsibility to lead the charge against their parents. If anything, they are victims too – even if their parents didn’t abuse them directly, they have been or will be damaged by the actions of their parent and will have to work through a lot of emotional and psychological stuff as a result. It would be heartbreaking to know your parent was an abuser because you witnessed it and witnessed everyone ignoring it. It would also be heartbreaking and incredibly difficult to have a beloved parent exposed as an abuser. Leave them to process it and deal with it as they will.
I can’t blame Paris for not believing – more likely not wanting to believe. I am curious about the boys, however. I wonder what they say? They haven’t said a word.
I don’t know that I expect them to say anything bad. Based on Prince’s social media, they are very much ingrained in the Jackson family. So, coming out with any negative opinion is only going to alienate them from just about everyone they love. But, it is curious to me as well.
I’m sure her childhood was, in many ways, traumatizing and it is hard to accept that someone you loved may have done awful things. But she often comes across as really out-of-touch and self-absorbed, even for age group and that is really saying something. Too harsh?
Not too harsh. Just insightful. She really comes across as being quite deluded and not in way that can be blamed on her age.
yeah I can’t imagine saying “calm your tittays” when you’re talking about your reaction to a documentary accusing your father of molesting young boys for years, but that’s me.
Yeah, I do think part of her thing is that she is only young; however, this girl also has issues that are totally unrelated to her youth. The lack of empathy that it would take to react to credible allegations of child sexual abuse with “calm your tittays” is kind of shocking. She needs intensive therapy and a break from the Jackson family.
She would do herself, and everyone else, a massive favor by zipping it.
lack of empathy, hit the nail on the head
I do see her as “fragile”, a bit of a dilettante & hope she uses the remainder of inheritance for therapy and a college education. Jackson estate will likely dry up & I see a jobby job in all their futures.
I will say this: this young woman seems to be living under a cloud of delusion or else she is maintaining these lies so that she can continue to try to forge a career in the entertainment industry and so that she can continue to receive royalties, and other benefits, from her father’s reputation remaining in tact. I think his siblings are publicly denying his crimes because they don’t want the knife plunged into the cash cow that is MJ’s estate. If that ended they won’t be able to live the highlife for free and will need to get off of their duffs and work and will also be publicly vilified and shunned instead of getting the red carpet treatment.
Y’know what, she’s allowed to have a tough time processing that her father was, undeniably, a child molester and predator. What she needs to do it be quiet or release a statement saying she is going through a lot and her heart goes out to the victims. She shouldn’t be tweeting trash like “Y’all take my life more seriously than I do. Calm yo tittaaaaysss.” That’s almost vile. To me, it reads like she isn’t taking any of the allegations seriously. And “mellow out”??
CHILDREN WERE GROOMED AND RAPED. It’s not time to make flippant statements. Who gives a fuck about his legacy or name? His victims have to deal with this every second of every single day until they die. Their wellbeing is more important to me that the name of Michael Jackson and how it now is synonymous with child abuse instead of musical genius.
Her tweets tell me that she has nobody guiding her right now, because anyone with an ounce of sense would sit her down and tell her how her words read to others. Her words are heartless and cruel, even if she believes there was no abuse.
She seems a very vulnerable, confused and spoiled young woman who has never heard the word “No”. She needs to give her head a wobble.
Yeah her tweets are inappropriate and vulgar.
Considering the seriousness and suffering of her fathers victims, there is no excuse for her casual tweets. She should condemn abuse on all levels from all people, even if it was committed by her father. 20 is a not a child and she should know right from wrong.
She needs to grow up and act better.
I thought that was vile as well, no almost about it.
I think the entire Jackson estate just needs to do some serious admission. Pay off the victims, they have ENOUGH $$. Resell the music to go straight to victim compensation charities. I’m from the barrio w street sense- MJ chose to white wash himself w serious chemicals, but not all of us are stupid enough to buy the toxic cover up! ENOUGH w the threats and claims of “he was so child-like he loved children” blah blah BS. Just admit, apologize , heal, FFS.
She has to stay on point for when Spielberg and Scorsese call
Firstly, this young woman has a right to her opinion. What I don’t get is why the sudden interest in her and not her brothers? Its kinda obvious how they feel about MJ. I just don’t see the point of tabloid media coverage of her!
To be fair, neither of her brothers seems to be out there putting themselves in the spotlight. At least, I’ve never heard anything about either of them trying to be “model” or to “act.”
The thing is…I dont necessarily blame her for believing her father is innocent. Its always going to be harder to accept when it comes to your family/someone you admire. Especially if you only saw that person in one light. He very well might have treated her like a little princess and never raised his voice around her. Of course its going to be hard to imagine him as anything else.
Also, people are outraged now but I dont know if this will tarnish his legacy longterm. Its just that a)its not like these allegations have come out of nowhere…its been around for decades and he was still being worshipped like a month ago. Hollywood is full of hypocrites and will probably move on/forget once the newest controversy comes out.
I completely disagree. I know my family members better than most and see them for who they are. She, better than anyone, growing up in the home and being around the other children- should have a better idea of what was going on there. If my father was dissappearing in our home with young boys and having inappropriate “friendships” with young children, I would intellectually understand that something bad was going on. There is a point where enabling monsters, remaining silent, not doing what is RIGHT, excusing their behaviors becomes IMMORAL. She is almost cancelled in my eyes
I don’t understand the reports about Paris believing her father is innocent. Maybe this stance is just to project the residual income she earns from his estate.
I see your point, but Paris is from one of the most bizarre families imaginable. And the larger Jackson clan is still one of the most dysfunctional bunches there is, even post Michael’s death. I really can’t imagine the things Paris has become acclimated to living among that bunch.
Plus my understanding is MJ’s kids were largely raised by nannies, who were themselves bizarre characters. Who knows what she saw.
Mary – Did you know your family members better than most when you were 10, or 15? She grew up in an environment where MJ was seen almost as a God…to me it would be absolutely incredible if she had been able to accurately perceive what was happening around her. She was a child!
She’s a drugged up mess who uses her fathers name to advance a career that isn’t built on talent but thirst. I haven’t seen the documentary but I believe his victims, MJ was an amazing artist but not hard to believe he wasn’t a good man. We’ll see where this documentary leads but as long as ppl keep taking her picture, putting her in magazines and she has access to everything she could ever want, she doesn’t care
She needs to stop making this about herself. It isn’t
I don’t think that “they” can tear down her father’s legacy.
He did that all by himself when he preyed on children.
I understand that she’s not in a position of strength, having been enmeshed with predators and enablers her entire life; but she’s discounting the word of people who are the walking wounded, harmed by her family.
She needs to keep her thoughts to herself or (better yet) share them with a therapist.
I believe these men and I believe there’s a lot more victims out there. I can understand how a child of the perpetrator would want to defend their parent. However, you have to look at the whole picture, look at the evidence. It’s undeniable too me. The best move for her is to keep her mouth shut or if she had a come to Jesus moment, give a statement of support to the victims. She’s always been the most outspoken out of the three.
exactly this 100%
If you’re going to open your mouth, it better be with support for the victims and condemnation of what her father did
I don’t blame Paris. I blame Dr. Arnold Klein and Debbie Rowe for cynically creating babies (Prince and Paris) and selling them to their dermatology client Michael Jackson–a known pedophile seeking a cover marriage and faux family life to avoid further scrutiny. No amount of money the kids get out of this will be enough to pay them back for their engineered fates.
YES. How does Paris really stand a chance given these origins, she is up against steep odds at the very best.
Of course she doesn’t. She grew up privileged and sheltered and very removed from the realities of who Michael Jackson really was, if you ask me. He was manipulative and shady and I have no doubt that he showed an entirely different side of himself when he was around her.
I’ve noticed this from a lot of children whose parents were, objectively, horrible people. I was just reading up about some children of Nazi party officials who defended their fathers’ legacies because they happened to be good parents. The attitude of, “Well they were nice to ME therefore they must have been a nice person,” is still very prevalent among many people, and it is exceptionally selfish and terrible when someone is unable to think about or understand the fact that others might see these people differently.