Unique, quirky, quality reporting from some of our most colorful characters. No news desk. No tele-prompter. No fancy camerawork. Just the facts, just the stories, just the wildly unexpected.
RECENT POSTS
- Quick Fix: Hand of Death?
- Quick Fix: What's in a Name?
- Quick Fix: Fall Is for Football
- Quick Fix: Cool Cats Who Love Cats
- Quick Fix: MLB Postseason Contentment?
- Quick Fix: Juju Juggles -- Family Secrets
- Quick Fix: Is the 'Pill' an Enemy to Macho Men?
- Quick Fix: The Never-Ending Brett Favre Story
- Quick Fix: Embarrassing Interview Moments
- Quick Fix: John Berman vs. Dan Harris
- Quick Fix: When Is It OK to Curse?
- Quick Fix: The South's Most Loved Liberal
CATEGORIES
MONTHLY ARCHIVES
« Previous | Main | Next »
Quick Fix: Michael Jackson's Daughter, JuJu's Reflections on Paris and Celebrity Orphans
July 07, 2009 7:46 PM
We'd only caught odd glimpses of Paris Jackson behind masks and scarves. But when the 12-year-old took center stage at the Staples Center -- after clinging to her Aunt Janet -- I gasped, despite myself. When she walked to the microphone and choked back tears to address the crowd, I felt a maternal pang.
"I just wanted to say, I love him so much," she managed to get out before collapsing in tears back into her aunt's arms. With that, she joined the tragic pantheon of celebrity orphans.
Think of the image of the toddler John John, in his perfect peacoat, saluting his father's coffin. Or the princes William and Harry, heads bowed, walking behind their mother's cortege. I know, I know, a presidential assassination and the death of a real princess are qualitatively different than the death of a recording artist, but in the world of celebrity worship, the King of Pop is a form of royalty.
We gossip about celebrities as if we all live in a small town where everyone knows everyone's business. Can you believe Jon and Kate are getting divorced? Did you hear Sarah quit her job? Yeah, and Jenny's husband Mark had a big affair with some Argentine woman ... What? It's like we're all standing at the clothesline talking over each other's fences.
Michael Jackson's kids are now in that fishbowl their father tried so hard to protect them from.
At least John John had a wise, loving mother in Jackie. And the princes were raised capably by their father. But what's to become of these orphans? JFK Jr. and the princes lost one parent, they weren't technically orphans. With the death of their father, the Jackson kids may have a legal mother, but they are emotionally orphaned ... which is why the custody issue looms so large.
So what will happen to Paris and her two brothers? A California appeals court ruled a few years back that Debbie Rowe is the legal parent of Prince I and Paris. You can sign away custodial rights, but it turns out you can't sign away parental rights.
The L.A. Times quoted USC law professor Scott Altman, who said, "When a child has two legal parents and one of them dies, the other takes custody." Another USC law professor, Grace Blumberg, said she expects Rowe to be granted custody, even if Michael Jackson designated someone else as guardian. But just to add legal spice to the confusing stew, Blumberg also says that if the European biological mother of Jackson's third child, Blanket, comes forward, she would have a claim because many European courts do not recognize surrogacy agreements.
There is a steady stream of Jackson supporters coming forward to assert that the best interests of the children are served by staying with their grandmother.
"Those kids need to be with Katherine and the family," Frank Cascio told "Good Morning America" in an exclusive interview. "That's who they need to be with. Not with Debbie."
Cascio was Jackson's personal assistant and as an adolescent, had travelled around with Jackson.
When asked if the children ever saw Debbie Rowe, Cascio said, "No. Not at all."
My 5-year-old is now singing "Billie Jean is NOT my lover ... she's just a girl who dreams that I am the one." I'm fairly certain that my son had never heard of Michael Jackson before last week. He's 5. He was in diapers when a jury acquitted Jackson of child molestation charges. And now here's my kindergartener singing "But the kid is not my son" with great flair. I'm not sure whether to applaud or try to stop it.
I suspect that's how a lot of us are feeling with the wall to wall coverage of Michael Jackson. As a card-carrying member of the mainstream media, I've gotten a lot of my friends' opinions on the MSM's coverage: "excessive" say some ... "mean-spirited" say others. And I'm just quoting the nice ends of the spectrum.
I was on a work call, with ABC's Jackson memorial coverage on mute in my office, when Paris Jackson walked to the mic. I'd seen Jermaine sing. I saw Usher cry. But I only turned on the volume for Paris. I had to stop the call I was on abruptly, "Excuse me," I said awkwardly, but I have to listen to this ..." it was the first time in the day that I was really moved.
Just days after his death, a sociologist observed that in death, Michael's fans will be able to reconnect with his art and put his misdeeds in perspective. While all that's true, I just keep thinking about those orphans.
July 7, 2009 in Juju Chang | Permalink | Share | User Comments (16)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
in life mr. jackson entertained us, brought us joy, and gave of himself much more than most. for people to want to get so deeply into his personal life is crazy.
his family needs the time to morn and to be left alone. his kids need to be with the only family they know. they need to feel loved and safe and if that's with the grandparents, leave them alone.
maybe someone should ask them what they'd like. in the end that's what is most important right now.
Posted by: deborah | Jul 8, 2009 11:29:17 AM
I hate to be the cynic but look again, closely. There's not one tear in that little girls eyes. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure she was in emotional pain but "...collapsing in tears back into her aunt's arms", as you stated, is quite an exaggeration. I think performer's blood obviously runs in the family.
Posted by: Steve | Jul 8, 2009 11:45:11 AM
If Blanket's mother is of European stock, his birth certificate came out of San Diego County, California. That makes the European claims over ridden? The child was born in America with MJ listed at the father. No mother was listed.
Posted by: MJ Fan | Jul 8, 2009 12:00:30 PM
I am very sorry for the death of Micheal Jacson and i am really sorry for him death and we miss him a lot and may god bless him
Posted by: sodiq | Jul 8, 2009 12:52:17 PM
I am from Nigeria and i hope we can still see him for other someday and i am from Akowonjo Egbada and in abati street ask for paparazi and they will let you know who is thinking about the death of Micheal jackson
Posted by: sodiq | Jul 8, 2009 12:54:33 PM
American sick media should leave MJ alone.Pls Let his good image u destroy rest in peace, for heaven sake.it's ur racist comment that killed him in the first place
Posted by: jessica | Jul 8, 2009 1:13:02 PM
REALLY REALLY UGLY THAT YOU WOULD LABEL THE CHILDREN AS ORPHANS, MEDIA IS SO INAPPROPRIATE, ESPECIALLY IN THE FAMILY'S TIME OF GRIEF.....MAN YOU GUYS SHOULD REALLY BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES.LEAVE THEM ALONE NONE OF THIS IS ANYBODYS BUSINESS BUT THE JACKSONS .....DAMN.
Posted by: Kik | Jul 8, 2009 4:55:23 PM
I'm a therapist/writer. For the most part, the article is worthwhile (went off just a bit); but Deborah--you need to keep your mouth shut until you get a little more wisdom.
Posted by: jensey | Jul 8, 2009 6:30:02 PM
I was touch when Paris spoke ...I know the feeling to when someone you love died ....Tears or no tears , it doesn't matter.....God knows...My condolence goes tothe family of Jackson and his children. May he rest in peace.
Posted by: angel | Jul 10, 2009 10:25:13 PM
I am saddened with his death .My son loves him ,my sisters love and my nephews him . He died too young . Those low lying people who caused him such pain brought him to his end .Please stop mentioning the lies ...let him rest peacefully .
No matter what he will live in our hearts .I pray for his children .
Posted by: jan | Jul 11, 2009 4:23:49 AM
It is precisely of media hounds that Michael refused to let his children leave their house without masks - whatever they do, it will be subject to scrutiny, an extreme close-up, and myopic judgment of the press. Just look what happened to him. More than the painkillers, the constant sadness in his life, it was the ruthless, unkind media that killed Michael Jackson. He had a very sensitive spirit - even as a young boy, he would cry at signs of sadness. No one in media can say they are not JADED. That is why no one wanted to believe.
Posted by: marianne | Jul 11, 2009 9:25:19 AM
FIRST OFF LET ME SAY I LOVED MICHAEL AND MY SON AND NOW HIS CHILDREN LOVE MICHAEL. NOW IF YOU WANT TO REALLY KNOW WHO OR WHAT PARIS IS ALL ABOUT LOOK FOR THE PIECE WHERE PARIS,LaTOYA,JANET ND RANDY WEN THE NIGHT BEFORE MICHAEL'S MEMORIAL TO VIEW HIS BODY. THE NECKLACE THAT PARIS WASWEARING IS A HEART THAT IS A HEART...SHE PUT THE OTHER HALF ON HER FATHER IN HIS CASKET....LOOK FOR THE ARTICLE THAT IS BY LaTOYA ON DAY MICHAEL DIE AND HOW THE CHILDREN REACTED AND HOW PARIS AGAIN WAS VERY CLOSE TO MICHAEL. SHE ALSO WAS KNON TO WRITE LETTERS TO MICHEAL AND STILL DOES TODAY TELLING HIM SHE MISSES HIM.I DO NOT REMEMBER WHAT WEB SITE I SW IT ON AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND IT AGAI BUT IT IS THE LATED NEWS FROM LaTOYA AND MICHAEL'S DEATH AND HOW THE CHILDREN ARE DOING. ACCORDING TO PARIS BLANKET IS VERY SAD AND SHE IS WORRIED ABOUT HIM AND WISHES HE WOULD BE HAPPY LIKE HER DADDY IS NOW. THE ARTICLE IS VERY HEART BREAKING AND WILL GET TOYOU MORE THEN PARIS' SPEECH ABOUT HER LOVING DADDY. LOOK FOR IT!!!
Posted by: SHIRL | Jul 12, 2009 12:39:06 AM
What? performer blood? the girl did not perform anything... she collapsed into her aunt's arms because she probably lost it, after she realized what she did, after the emotions got to her, after she got nervous about everybody watching and listening to her..
Expressing one's emotions to the outside world does that even to grown up's...
People are so mean sometimes and just loooove to gossip...
Posted by: hailei_2007 | Jul 12, 2009 3:01:27 PM
JuJu, Pardon me but I wanted to address your comment at the end of your article that said "a sociologist observed that in death, Michael's fans will be able to reconnect with his art and put his misdeeds in perspective". Well, I want to ask you- What MISDEEDS? He was acquitted of any charges in his trial and was guilty of NO misdeeds. He was a very kind humanitarian who helped countless children around the world. He gave millions to charities and gave of his time to go to orphanages and hospitals to bring some joy into children's lives. How many of us can claim to be so giving and generous to our fellow man? He is in the Guiness Book of World Records for being the MOST generous celebrity for charities, in the world. Look it up. This man deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for all the charitable causes he has championed and all the money and awareness he raised for numerous humanitarian causes around the world. And his children are grieving and need to be left ALONE by the media and prurient public. But as long as there is a buck to made there will be vultures out there chasing after them with cameras and making their lives a misery. Michael Jackson was a good man. He wasn't a conventional one, by any means. But he made the world a sweeter, kinder place to be while he was here. The media hounded him to his death. Please don't allow this to happen to his children. Their father was a celbrity but they are just innocent children. Please everyone, respect their privacy and give them time and space to mourn their father's death.
Posted by: rising sun | Jul 21, 2009 11:23:55 AM
what misdeeds of MJs are you speaking of JuJu? MJ was found not guilty on 14 counts and that other case that was settled out of court I understand that the young man (now that MJ is dead) is now saying that his father made him lie to get money because he was tired of being poor. Why do you think so many people everywhere loved MJ? He affected people all over the world, I have never seen that kind of outpouring of love for anyone in all of my life.
Posted by: bjcurry | Aug 31, 2009 6:16:20 PM
LEAVE MICHAEL ALONE!!!!!!!!
Posted by: jackie | Oct 8, 2009 6:23:49 PM
Post a comment
