Revealed: Michael Jackson’s Son Explains His Father’s Masking Strategy – See How His Kids Have Changed

Michael Jackson was known for his obsession with keeping his children out of the public eye, often covering their faces with masks and veils during public appearances. This behavior sparked much curiosity and speculation among fans and the media regarding his motivations. Recently, his eldest child revealed the real reason behind this practice, providing insight into Jackson’s protective nature and generating renewed interest and reactions online.

Michael Jackson was deeply committed to protecting his children’s privacy, a focus that significantly influenced their early lives. Although his methods were unconventional, they stemmed from a genuine desire to shield them from the intense media scrutiny that had affected him throughout his own life.

The singer was resolute in ensuring that his children would not face the same level of exposure and scrutiny that he had endured throughout his career.

Michael raised his children in a distinctive manner, which his eldest son, Prince Michael I Jackson, fully grasped. In an interview, Prince shared that his father treated him like an adult and explained the reasons behind making them wear masks.

Prince revealed, “He told us the reason for the masks was that he wanted us to have our own life without him.” He explained that he and his siblings could go out in public without their father and remain unbothered because they were unrecognizable. He also acknowledged, “I don’t think I ever thought about whether other kids lived like that when I was younger. But once I knew who he was, I realized it wasn’t normal.”

After learning the reason behind Michael’s overprotectiveness, social media users expressed their reactions. One Facebook user remarked on his peculiar nature, saying, “Surprisingly.” Another commented, “He was a very strange man,” while someone else sympathized, stating, “This is just too, too sad.”

Michael Jackson sadly passed away on June 25, 2009, in Los Angeles, California, leaving behind three young children. Following his death, a custody battle emerged between his mother, Katherine Jackson, and his ex-wife, Debbie Rowe.

After several weeks of negotiations, Katherine Jackson and Debbie Rowe reached an out-of-court agreement regarding the custody of Michael Jackson’s children. Reports indicated that Katherine was granted full, permanent custody, while Debbie was allotted “meaningful visitation rights.”

A source with direct knowledge of the agreement confirmed that Katherine Jackson retained sole custody of Prince Michael I, who was 12, Paris-Michael Katherine, who was 11, and Prince Michael II (Blanket), who was seven at the time. Meanwhile, Debbie Rowe maintained her legal parental rights.

Debbie Rowe is the biological mother of Michael Jackson’s two eldest children, Prince and Paris. His youngest child, Blanket, was born through an unnamed surrogate after Michael and Debbie’s divorce.

In a 2016 interview, Michael’s eldest son, Prince, mentioned that he regarded his grandmother, Katherine, and his cousin, Frances, as the two main maternal figures in his life. He added, “As for my birth mother, she’s always been more of a friend, and that works for us.”

In the same interview, Prince discussed the difficulties he and his siblings encountered following their father’s death, stating, “After he died, we got bombarded with [everything].” This included the resurgence of Michael’s scandals, such as the numerous allegations of child molestation, his acquittal on child sexual abuse charges, and ongoing speculation about his changing appearance and eccentric behavior dating back to the 1980s.

After being shielded from the intense media scrutiny surrounding their father, Michael Jackson’s children suddenly faced the same accusations and tabloid gossip that had often overshadowed his fame. The scandals and rumors that had troubled their father’s life became part of their own reality. As they matured, each of Michael’s children began to carve out their own paths in life.

Prince openly revealed that many people initially expected him to follow in his father’s footsteps by pursuing a career in music and dance. However, he humorously confessed that he couldn’t do either.

Prince stated, “Music is a big part of my life. It shaped who I am because of my family, but I’ve always wanted to go into production. My dad would ask me what I wanted to do, and my answer was always producing and directing.”

Despite his father’s attempts to protect him from the public eye, Prince received full support from the Jackson family in pursuing his chosen career path. His cousin, Taj Jackson, described him as “extremely smart” and noted that Prince is a grounded young man, a quality instilled in him by his father.

Unlike her brother, Prince, Paris has chosen to follow in their father’s footsteps by pursuing a music career. However, she had to first work on herself to find the courage to do so.

Michael’s death had a profound impact on his daughter, leaving her emotionally scarred. She attempted to take her own life multiple times and eventually entered treatment at the age of 15. In a March 2017 interview, Paris candidly revealed that she “was always the weird kid.”

“I’ve always wanted to kind of break off and do my own thing, just ’cause I feel I enjoy independence very much,” she expressed. Growing up, Michael dressed his daughter in an idealized, traditional manner, often adorning her in dainty pinafores, lacy collared blouses, and Mary Jane shoes.

Now, as she embraces her own identity, Paris’s style showcases a vibrant, free-spirited look, characterized by tie-dyed bright colors, dangling peace-sign necklaces, and worn Converse sneakers.

Michael was famously dedicated to safeguarding his children’s privacy, often having them wear masks or veils during public appearances. However, after his death, the children were suddenly unmasked, exposing not only their faces but also the extent of their isolation from the outside world.

At 12 years old, Paris recognized that she lacked social skills, explaining how she had to teach herself how to navigate social interactions quickly. Even now, she leads a rather solitary life.

Reflecting on her journey, Paris shared that she has worked hard to improve her communication skills over the years, adding, “I think I’ve gotten pretty good at it.”

Now 26, Paris has explored various paths in acting, modeling, and music. Although she signed a lucrative modeling contract in 2017, her primary focus has shifted to creating music with her boyfriend and bandmate from The Soundflowers, Gabriel Glenn.

A family friend revealed that Paris is “very excited about creating music” and emphasized that this is her true passion, adding, “She wants to do more gigs with her band.”

In contrast, her younger brother, Blanket, is a movie enthusiast. He even launched a movie review channel on YouTube in 2019 with his cousin Taj and older brother Prince.

In an October 2019 interview, Prince praised his brother Blanket’s impressive knowledge of film, crediting their late father for encouraging their passions. He shared, “My brother has a really unique talent; even for a movie he hasn’t seen, he can tell you what year it came out. He knows the director, the staff, the crew—everybody behind it that you wouldn’t know.”

The 27-year-old explained that this deep understanding of film was nurtured by their father’s encouragement. “We had a film teacher at a very young age, so it was really his idea, and he was championing behind it,” he said.

As the youngest, Blanket, born in February 2002, is now 22 years old. In an interview, Michael Jackson explained the reason behind his nickname for Blanket, stating that it was a form of expression he often used with his family and employees, meaning blessing. “It’s a way of showing love and caring,” he shared.

Michael Jackson’s children have grown into their own individuals, embracing their passions while navigating the challenges of fame and privacy. Despite the obstacles, they continue to honor their father’s legacy by forging their own unique paths.