Why Paris Jackson Appreciated Wearing Masks as a Kid
It is hard to believe that all of Michael Jackson’s children are adults now. Paris Jackson was only 11 years old when her father died.
She and her siblings took the stage during his 2009 memorial service, surprising fans who weren’t used to seeing the Jackson children out in public.
Jackson wanted to maintain their privacy and was often ridiculed for his parenting methods. But Paris Jackson is grateful for what her dad did for them.
Paris Jackson opens up about her life in new series
On June 30, Facebook Watch premiered a new reality web series called Unfiltered: Paris Jackson & Gabriel Glenn. It’s a peek into Jackson’s personal life and the process of launching her band, The Soundflowers.
The weekly show explores her insecurities about her music career and Jackson’s relationship with Glenn. They met two years ago and fell for each other quickly.
Viewers also get to hear from her brothers Prince and Bigi. In the first episode, Prince spoke about watching his sister perform.
He said, “When I get to see my sister sing, I feel very proud in a way because I’ve seen where she came from and everything she had to deal with when she was growing up, and how that singing has kind of been an outlet for her.”
Jackson is also open about her struggles as Michael Jackson’s child and living in his shadow.
Paris Jackson was glad to wear masks as a kid
Who remembers seeing Michael Jackson carrying his youngest son around with a blanket over his head? Jackson often concealed his kids’ faces with masks, scarves, or other coverings. To outsiders, this seemed strange, but the children were used to it.
In episode 3, Paris discussed her distrust of the media and her bad experiences with paparazzi. She said when she was a little girl, sometimes the paparazzi would step on her when they chased after dad. She said it was hard for them to see a kid in the crowd, especially with a hood or mask.
Jackson talked about her father’s childhood and how it affected his decision for them to be covered.
When he was young, he would be in the studio and he’d look outside and see kids on the playground. He couldn’t do that. And he didn’t want that for us, so we wore masks. And I appreciated it. It was nice ‘cause we were able to go to like Chuck E. Cheese and Circus Circus, and we could be normal.
Jackson shared that media attention sometimes gives her anxiety, and she’s prone to panic attacks. But she said she’s accepted she’ll probably never have a private life.
Music helps keep Paris Jackson balanced
She credited Elliot Mintz with teaching her how to weather the tough moments, but Jackson noted that music plays a role in her mental health. She said, “I guess music is a really safe way to express my thoughts and opinions and feelings without getting absolutely shredded to pieces for it.”
Jackson expressed she wants her music to connect with people, and her journey with boyfriend “Gabe” Glenn includes working through the pressures she’s felt as Michael Jackson’s kid. You can catch new episodes of the series each Tuesday on Facebook Watch.
