From Campus to Classroom: Stories That Shape Education
- Paris Jackson said Neverland Ranch was off limits to her and brothers, reserved for underprivileged kids; she was homeschooled.
- At 15 she first met her mother Debbie Rowe, describing a casual first encounter and a growing bond.
- Paris Jackson said she had a rough time after Michael Jackson's death, struggling with social skills and relating to peers.
Paris Jackson is pulling back the curtain on what it was really like growing up with the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, and she is giving us a whole new look into her life.
Jackson divulged the details as the latest guest on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, where she covered a wide range of topics about her life and family. If you haven’t gotten the chance to listen yet, no worries! We’ve broken down some of the most notable and shocking takeaways.
Paris Jackson Didn’t Grow Up Playing on Neverland Ranch
One of the most shocking revelations came when Jackson revealed that, contrary to popular belief, she and her brothers didn’t grow up playing on the Neverland Ranch as some might think. In all actuality, the “Thriller” singer made it abundantly clear that the place was off limits to them and strictly for underprivileged kids who couldn’t afford to go to other major amusement parks like Disney World or Disneyland.
“I didn’t grow up there. It was only the first few years of my life that I was there and I’d wake up and I’d go to school,” Jackson said. “Yeah, I’d wake up and go to the room that was our classroom, and we would go to school.” (She later confirmed she was homeschooled.)
Related: Paris Jackson Sets Massive Boundary for MJ Fans
She then went on to describe a surprisingly similar upbringing and rules that her famous father enacted upon them.
“If you’re good and you do your chores and you do your homework and you do the things you’re supposed to do, then on the weekends you can go and see some animals, and you can go ride some rides, and you can go to the movies,” she revealed.
Jackson also shared that their dad also let them enjoy places like Circus Circus and Chuck E. Cheese, but wouldn’t allow her and her brothers to watch TV or movies. The only exception was that it had to be the weekend and it could only happen after they had completed all their tasks, or if they were studying something for film.
Paris Didn’t Meet Her Mom, Debbie Rowe, Until She Was 15
In another part of the conversation, Jackson explained how she didn’t start asking questions about her mom, Debbie Rowe, until she was about 10 or 11. Initially, she was satisfied with just learning minor details about her, such as her name, and she moved on from there.
However, by the time she turned 15, she would finally connect with her, with their first encounter happening in a super casual way.
“I remember coming downstairs, and she was in the living room with my grandma,” she said. “I came in. I was just like, ‘Hey, mom,’ and she was like, ‘Hi.’ I sat down. We talked for a second. Then we went out for the day and just hung out.”
Jackson later touched on her bond with Rowe, noting that beyond their similar traits, they’re both fire signs astrologically.
“She’s a Sag[ittarius], so she’s got the fire. I’m an Aries, I got the fire. We’re very similar,” she said.
Paris Finally Explains Why Michael Jackson Made Them Wear Masks in Public
Elsewhere in the interview, Jackson reflected on what it felt like having to wear masks or face coverings as children. As seen in countless photos and videos, at a certain point in his life, the “P.Y.T.” singer would regularly travel with masks and made his kids do the same when they were out and about.
When asked if it ever felt odd to do so, Jackson said no and instead offered the justification she accepted for having to do so all those years ago.
“It just made sense because it was like if you do this now then you can go to Chuck E. Cheese and be normal this weekend because no one will know who you are,” she explained.
Later, when asked if she ever felt scared given her father’s large fanbase and the persistent paparazzi when she was a child, Jackson also said no and countered that she actually felt safe whenever they’d venture into the public eye.
“I always felt protected; we had security. Sometimes crowds would get a little crazy, but there’s an adult you can grab onto,” she said.
Paris Had a “Rough” Time in the Aftermath of Michael’s Death
In one part of their talk, Jackson explained that she went to go live with her grandmother not too long after the “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” artist passed away in June 2009. As a result, she found it hard to relate to kids her age.
“I didn’t have social skills. I had been hanging out with cousins, my brothers, and adults. I didn’t interact with my peers very well, so I had a crash course in social skills,” she explained.
Paris Didn’t Realize How Famous Her Dad Was Until Way Later
During another part of their discussion, Jackson shared that she didn’t realize how much fame her dad had accrued with fans all over the world. Having only known and heard the music, it didn’t click to her that her dad was such a huge deal until one day she saw how the public reacted to his presence at a hotel.
“I knew he was famous; I just didn’t know how famous he was. There was definitely part of me—one time when I looked out my hotel window, and it was one of those times where the alias didn’t work, and there’s just a sea of people with signs and stuff. I’m not so naive to think, ‘Yeah, everyone experiences this,’ she explained. “I just didn’t understand the lengths.”
Watch the full interview here!
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