The Truth About Paris Jackson's Relationship With Her Grandparents

Paris Jackson was just 11 years old when her famous musician father, Michael Jackson, died tragically at the age of 50 in June of 2009. The actor and model is the "Thriller" singer's middle child. She has one older brother, Prince, and one younger, Bigi. According to her brother, Prince, Paris is quite like their father. "Basically, as a person, she is who my dad is. The only thing that's different would be her age and her gender," Prince said about his sister to Rolling Stone in 2017. He added that she's just like her dad "in all of her strengths, and almost all of her weaknesses as well. She's very passionate. She is very emotional to the point where she can let emotion cloud her judgment."

The model also spoke to Rolling Stone about the experience of losing her father at such a young age, stating that she disagrees with the expression that "time heals all wounds." She explained, "You just get used to it. I live life with the mentality of 'Okay, I lost the only thing that has ever been important to me.'" It seems that Paris draws a lot of her inner strength from the experience of losing her father, telling the publication that no matter what happens in life, it will never be worse than what she has already been through. 

When the "Smooth Criminal" star died, Paris went to live with her grandparents. Keep reading to learn more about their relationship.

When young Paris Jackson's father, Michael Jackson, died, she didn't have much of a choice in what happened to her, she told Willow Smith in a June episode of "Red Table Talk" (per LADbible). "I was so young that I wasn't conscious of 'I've gotta keep going,'" the actor told Smith. "I was just going through the motions and didn't really understand what was happening, and so I just went with what I was told to do." 

Doing what she was told to do meant moving in with her grandparents, Katherine Jackson and the late Joe Jackson. Paris stated that her internal process involved accepting that she had to live with her grandparents and attend a traditional school instead of being homeschooled as she was previously. She said the reason she went along with what was expected of her was because she "didn't really have much guidance."

During the years after her father's death, Paris experienced debilitating depression and a drug addiction. According to the Los Angeles Times, the family matriarch said her granddaughter "had the hardest time" following the "Beat It" singer's death while speaking from the witness stand during lawsuit proceedings. Katherine reported that Paris eventually needed medical support for several suicide attempts because she "wanted to go where Daddy was." Her son's death was incredibly painful for her as well. "That's the worst thing that could happen to a person, losing a child," she said.

When Paris' grandmother was named her permanent guardian, she began to raise her granddaughter under the strict principles of Jehovah's Witnesses. However, this would later clash with Paris' sexuality when she came out as queer to her family at 14 years old, as she revealed to Willow Smith on her Facebook Watch show, "Red Table Talk" (via The Independent). While some family members accepted her sexuality, others did not, which made it a difficult period in the model's life. 

Fortunately, Paris was able to overcome the rejection she experienced from her family and arrive at a place of acceptance. "I've reached a point right now where I have love and respect for my family, their beliefs, their culture, their religion and if I'm to expect them to set that aside just so I can feel accepted, expectations lead to resentments for me," she said. The most important thing for Paris is that she's living a life of love and being of service to others. She says that if she isn't hurting anyone, she thinks she'll be alright. Ultimately, it's simply best for her not to discuss the subject with her family.

And while extended family members may not accept Paris for who she is, she is grateful to have the support from her two brothers, Prince and Bigi. "They've always been super-supportive," Paris told Smith on "Red Table Talk." She added, "Not a lot of people can say they have siblings that support them like that."