Last night Michael Jackson's children Prince, Paris and Bigi Jackson attended the opening night of MJ: The Musical at the Prince Edward Theatre in London, where they posed for their first joint red carpet picture together in 10 years.
As the children of the King of Pop, and arguably one of history’s most famous performers, the trio have been subjected to intense media scrutiny their entire lives. While his oldest two, who he had with his then-wife Debbie Rowe, have chosen to enter the world of entertainment, his youngest, Bigi (formerly known as Blanket and who was born to a surrogate) has largely evaded fame.
In 2007, Jackson's longtime bodyguard told PEOPLE the children were "well-mannered, well-behaved kids… They are really level-headed." The singer's publicist added, "They were Michael's first priority."
Michael died in 2009 at the age of 50 from a cardiac arrest, leaving all his money to his three children and mother, Katherine, who assumed custody of the three underage children.
Here’s what the kids have been up to since.
Prince Michael Jackson, 27
The eldest son of the late King of Pop, Prince has embarked on a multifaceted career. In 2013, he made his acting debut with a guest appearance on the CW series "90210," followed by roles in shows like "The Jacksons: Next Generation" and "Scream: The TV Series” before pivoting behind the scenes by founding his production company King’s Son.
He has dedicated himself to supporting causes that are close to his heart, including children's healthcare, education, and environmental conservation through his involvement with organisations like Heal Los Angeles and the Michael Jackson Foundation. In an interview with Good Morning America, he spoke about his aspirations, saying, "I want to continue my education, continue my philanthropy, and of course, continue my career in entertainment and producing."In a 2020 interview with "Entertainment Tonight," Prince Jackson said his dad would be "very proud" of him as "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 non-profit or the charity organization is to share those experiences," he said.
Paris Jackson, 25
Although she originally wanted to stay out of the spotlight and become a “psychologist or a nurse at a psychiatric ward”, Paris has instead forged her own path in the world of entertainment.
In 2010, Paris made her acting debut in the film "Lundon's Bridge and the Three Keys," marking the beginning of her foray into the world of entertainment. That same year she also lent her vocals to the track "The Lost Children" on her father's posthumous album, "Michael", which marked the beginning of her music career. Since then she has released music with her then-boyfriend Gabriel Glenn as part of the band Soundflowers, released her first full-length studio album, wilted, in 2020 following their break-up.
"Music is like the air I breathe — it is awareness, it is being able to create something bigger than me and it is a way to express myself and externalize what I feel inside," she told L'Officiel Italia in 2020 of her artistry.
The star has also tried her hand at modeling appearing on covers for Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue Australia, and walking Jean Paul Gaultier's Haute Couture spring/summer 2020 fashion show.
As conversations surrounding nepotism reach peak frenzy, she’s also spoken out about having that famous last name. "I'm also a full believer that I should earn everything," she said on the YouTube show No Filter with Naomi Campbell in 2021. "I go to auditions, I work hard, I study scripts, I do my thing ... even growing up it was about earning stuff."
The multi hyphenate has been outspoken about her struggles with mental health, telling Rolling Stone in 2017 that she had attempted suicide "multiple times" by age 15. "I think it was everything," she added on Red Table Talk. "I think a lot of it was just not knowing who I was, being a young girl and going through puberty, and probably a lot of just my situation and a lot of pressure. It was really hard, and people would tell me to kill myself every day, and I was depressed."
Bigi Jackson, 21
Born Prince Michael Jackson II, before he became Blanket, unlike his older siblings he was welcomed via surrogate on February 21, 2002. To this date his mother’s identity has never been revealed. “I used a surrogate mother and my own sperm cells,” the singer later told biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli. “She doesn't know me and I don't know her. I didn't care what race she was so long as she was healthy and her vision was good. And her intellect — I wanted to know how intelligent she is.”
In 2015, Bigi made headlines when he changed his name from Blanket to Bigi, a decision that sparked curiosity and speculation among fans and the media alike. While the reason behind the name change remains private, it symbolized Bigi's desire to distance himself from the moniker that had defined him for so long and to assert his individual identity.
Throughout his adolescence, Bigi has remained largely out of the public eye, opting for a life away from the glare of celebrity. Unlike his siblings, who have pursued careers in entertainment and activism, Bigi has kept his aspirations and interests private, leading to much speculation about his future endeavors.
Despite his elusive nature, glimpses of Bigi have occasionally surfaced on social media, offering fans fleeting insights into his life. "My little brother is a legal adult today. what the f—," wrote Paris on Instagram alongside three throwback photos of Bigi. "I used to change his diapers. this is such a trip.. proud of the handsome, intelligent, insightful, funny, and kind young man he has become. he likes privacy so that's all i gotta say. hbd lil bro♥ï¸."
Bigi did give a rare interview in 2021 and spoke about his desire to make an impact in the world. "That's what each of us [siblings] want to do — make things that people enjoy but also benefit their lives," he said. For him, this includes the fight against climate change. "I do think it's important we all know about it. We have some work to do but our generation knows how important it is," he shared.
