Paris Jackson: Michael’s Teenage Girl Shows Impressive Composure and Depth
Paris Jackson, the teenage daughter of the late King of Pop, will appear in Oprah's Next Chapter on Sunday. Snippets of the young girl's conversation with the Queen of Talk have spread online, and the chats that were released show one thing: the young girl can handle emotions and controversies with class and sensibility.
On MJ's mask rule for his kids
"I was really confused," Paris admitted. "But I understand it now - why my dad would want our faces to be covered. When we went out without him we wouldn't be recognized," she added.
As odd as it may sound, the masks brought a sense of normalcy to her childhood, as well as that of her siblings, she said.
"We had a normal childhood - including trips to the children's arcade and restaurant Chuck E. Cheese's," Paris told Oprah.
The normal childhood
Paris seemed sympathetic to her father's frustration over a lost childhood, while at the same time acknowledging that Michael tried his best to give them what he lacked - and desired - as a child.
"He told us that when he was younger he didn't really have a childhood... He would always be stuck in the studio singing while the kids were out playing. He wanted us to have that," she said.
Coping with death and moving on
"It never gets any easier," Paris described how she has been coping with her father's death. She noted the pain has not changed through the years.
Paris also talks to Oprah about her film acting aspirations, as well as her aunt Janet Jackson's reaction to her dreams.
Three years ago
"Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine and I just want to say I love him so much."
It has been three years since Paris, then 11 years old, delivered a very brief but heartbreaking speech at her father's memorial. The sincere words from a child shed light on Michael's normal life away from the limelight. He was a loving father, "the best" in the eyes of his child.
Now that this child will embark upon a journey in the same industry that celebrated and criticized his father's life, MJ's fans could only wish her the best. Her father seems to have raised her well for this.