Paris Jackson wants her “social media followers, friends, stalkers, lovers and haters, and fellow moonwalkers” to stay out of her family’s “drama.”
Following Sunday’s Billboard Music Awards, Michael Jackson’s daughter was flooded with hate on social media for not being present to watch her aunt, Janet Jackson, receive the Billboard Icon Award after performing a medley of her biggest hits.
“Dear social media followers, friends, stalkers, lovers and haters, and fellow moonwalkers,” Paris wrote in a series of Instagram Stories. “Please do not tell me/demand/try to control how I handle my relationship with the people in my life, specifically my family. As amazing and as shitty as things can be, it is no one’s business but ours. I understand that some of you feel some sort of connection or need to be a part of our lives considering you watched us grow up; however, I am handling my situation exactly how my father did. And I am happy keeping it that way.”
Up until his death in 2009, Michael always tried to keep his children — including Paris — out of the public eye.
“I will always have love and respect for my family. ALWAYS. There is nothing more or less than that, that you need to know. Thank you for understanding,” Paris wrote.
The actress went on to explain that her family is no different from other families and that “every life has their own shit to deal with.”
“Every family has their moments of trauma, heartbreak, separation, love, oneness, tribe, pain, everything. EVERY FAMILY,” she wrote. “My family, specifically, and a good number of others… Well, our drama is broadcasted worldwide through media, but that doesn’t mean our family issues are any different from yours. Ours are just made public. Every level has another devil. Every life has their own shit to deal with. We ain’t inferior or superior to y’all. We’re all f-cking human, so let’s act like it.”
The 20-year-old concluded her message by thanking “any and every person” who read her post, adding that she’s “grateful” for everything in her life — “positive and negative.”
Janet shares her niece’s thoughts on being a strong woman, showing compassion and being sensitive to others, which she expressed during her acceptance speech. There to witness Janet receive the Icon Award were her mother Katherine Jackson, her nephew Prince Jackson and her sister Rebbie Jackson. It was the first time the Icon Award was given to an African-American woman.
“We live in a glorious moment in history. It’s a moment, at long last, women have made it clear we will no longer be controlled, manipulated or abused,” Janet said. “I stand with those women and with those men equally outraged by discrimination, who support us in heart and mind. This is also a moment when our public discourse is loud and harsh.”
Janet also talked about her faith, saying God is the “source of all calmness.”
“Everything we lack, God has in abundance: compassion, sensitivity, patience and a boundless love,” she said. “So, again, I want to thank all of you for this honor, and I thank God for giving me the precious energy that lets me live my life as an artist, who — every single day — seeks to expand my capacity to love.”
