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Michael Jackson was not only known as the King of Pop and an exceptional dancer, but the late icon was also a father of three children — Prince, Paris and Bigi Jackson — whom he deeply loved.
Before his death in 2009, Michael Jackson spoke highly of fatherhood and said that his children meant “everything” to him.
“I enjoy taking care of my children myself,” the singer said in an interview with Geraldo Rivera. “It’s fun. That’s why I had them, so I could take care of them and it’s just great relief for me.”
He added, at the time, that raising his children made him “happy” and he wanted to be “the best father in the world.”
“They’re wonderful, sweet, innocent children,” he said, later adding, “They’re the world for me. I wake up and I’m ready for the day because of them.”
Next year, the “Thriller” singer’s life is getting the biopic treatment, with his nephew Jaafar Jackson portraying him in the upcoming film “Michael.” The young Jackson is the spitting image of his late uncle in the first look previously shared by Prince Jackson.
The movie, set to be released in 2025, will tell the story of Michael Jackson's early life, rising career and more. There’s no word on if M.J.’s children will be depicted in the film. However, the filmmakers appear to have the former pop star's children's full support.
Recently, Prince, Paris and Bigi Jackson made a rare group appearance for the opening night of “MJ: The Musical” at Prince Edward Theatre in London on March 27.
The siblings posed for photos on the red carpet ahead of the performance. Prince Jackson was all smiles in a black suit with a burgundy shirt and black tie. Paris Jackson opted for a rust-colored gown that had a fitted bodice and off-the-shoulder loose, long sleeves. The youngest, Bigi Jackson, wore a black suit and white button-up shirt.
The trio is rarely seen all together. Back in August 2022, Paris and Prince attended the 22nd annual Harold and Carole Pump Foundation Gala in Beverly Hills, after going to the Tony Awards a month before.
Both Paris and Prince Jackson share the same mom, Michael Jackson's ex-wife Debbie Rowe. The pop icon welcomed Bigi Jackson with the help of a surrogate.
Read on to learn more about Michael Jackson's three kids.
Prince Michael Jackson, 27
In February 1997, Michael Jackson welcomed his first child, Prince, with his then-wife, Debbie Rowe.
“Words can’t describe how I feel, I have been blessed beyond comprehension, and I will work tirelessly at being the best father that I can possibly be. I appreciate that my fans are elated,” Michael Jackson said in a statement at the time, according to MTV. “But I hope that everyone respects the privacy that Debbie and I want and need for our son. I grew up in a fishbowl and I will not allow that to happen to my child. Please respect our wishes and give my son his privacy.”
In May 2019, Prince Jackson graduated with a degree in business administration from Loyola Marymount University.
To commemorate the occasion, Prince Jackson shared a collection of photos from his graduation on Instagram, including a picture with his little brother, Bigi, and a caption expressing gratitude to those who supported him.
"Yesterday I graduated from @loyolamarymount Cum Laude in the school of business with a focus on entrepreneurship," Prince Jackson penned. "I met so many people and learned so much that the experience alone is worth it. I wish I could thank everyone that helped me make it to the end but I can’t and unfortunately they’re not all pictured here."
Prince Jackson co-founded the charity Heal Los Angeles Foundation, which started as a student service organization in 2016 and eventually grew into a nonprofit. The organization aims to "improve the lives of young people in Greater Los Angeles," the official site reads.
In a 2020 interview with “Entertainment Tonight,” Prince Jackson said that he thinks his dad would be “very proud” of all that he’s achieved because having his kids spread “positivity and happiness” was one of Michael Jackson’s “main goals.”
“I was very fortunate to have him as a father. I had a lot of unique experiences growing up, and what I’m trying to do with my platform and the nonprofit or the charity organization is to share those experiences,” he said.
In February of 2024, he shared the first-look photo of Jaafar Jackson as the late singer, writing how special the film is for him and his family.
“This project has had so many special moments for me and everyone involved. This photo was taken by my dad’s concert photographer @kevinmazur who was there for my dad’s last rehearsal and Jaafar’s first performance!” Prince Jackson wrote on Feb. 13.
He also thanked everyone for the birthday wishes and gave his cousin Jaafar Jackson a shoutout.
“Watching you perform and work your butt off is the closest I’ll ever come to watching my dad in concert and it’s been a dream come true! Proud of you cuz!” he wrote.
Paris Jackson, 26
In April 1998, Michael Jackson welcomed his daughter, Paris, with Rowe.
While opening up about her life on the Facebook Watch series "Red Table Talk" in June 2021, Paris Jackson said there had been times when she had attempted suicide.
The "Running For So Long" singer noted that she dealt with a lot of trauma from growing up in the spotlight.
"I think a lot of it was not knowing who I was, being a young girl going through puberty and probably a lot of my situation and a lot of pressure,” she said. “It was really hard. And people told me to kill myself everyday. And I was depressed.”
However, in the episode, Paris Jackson noted that "things have gotten better" for her and she's "really grateful" to still be alive.
On a June 2020 episode of her Facebook Watch series, "Unfiltered: Paris Jackson & Gabriel Glenn," Paris Jackson talked about her sexuality and said she identifies as gay.
“I say I’m gay because I guess I am, but I wouldn’t consider myself bisexual because I’ve dated more than just men and women. I’ve dated a man that had a vagina,” she said. “It has nothing to do with what’s in your pants."
"It’s literally like, what are you like as a person?” Paris Jackson added.
In 2020, Paris Jackson released her first album, "Wilted." Since then, she's released more songs, her latest single being "Hit Your Knees."
On what would have been Michael Jackson's 65th birthday in 2023, Paris took to Instagram to tell fans that her father “used to hate anybody acknowledging his birthday.”
“He actually didn’t want us to even know when his birthday was, because he didn’t want us to throw a party, or anything like that,” she said. “That being said, social media is apparently how people express their love and affection these days, and if you don’t wish someone a ‘happy birthday’ via social media, it apparently means that you don’t love them, that you don’t care about them.”
Paris Jackson said in the clip that people have measured her “love” for her father based on what she’s posted on Instagram, so she said she was going to share a “little video” that they would like.
She then posted a clip of herself onstage talking about Michael Jackson’s birthday in front of fans.
“I owe everything to him,” she said.
Bigi Jackson, 22
In February 2002, Michael Jackson welcomed his last child, who now goes by Bigi, with the help of a surrogate.
Bigi Jackson, who was born Prince Michael Jackson II, became known by his nickname “Blanket” during his childhood. He now goes by Bigi.
Out of all of his siblings, Bigi Jackson keeps the lowest profile. While it's not often, he occasionally makes a public appearance, like at Prince Jackson's graduation and a Las Vegas outing on what would have been his dad's 65th birthday.
On Aug. 29, 2023, Michael Jackson’s youngest son was spotted with his older brother, Prince Jackson, at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, where Cirque du Soleil is currently performing the “Michael Jackson ONE” show.
For the occasion, Bigi Jackson wore an all-black outfit while Prince Jackson opted for a gray T-shirt with jeans.
At the venue, Bigi Jackson was spotted taking photos with people, including actor Myles Frost, who portrayed Michael Jackson in the Broadway show “MJ: The Musical.”