Paris Jackson

[Jen]

What do you make of Paris Jackson's farewell speech to her father (http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/michael_jackson/2009/07/09/2009-07-09_a_poignant_farewell_let_paris_mourn__and_heal.h tml)? I was touched by it when I first saw it, but later wondered if it was something Michael Jackson would have approved of after years of shielding her from the media.

I don't think it was staged, though I've read some theories about that because the family members adjust the microphone downward to capture all her tears when she starts crying--long before they hug her. I don't buy it, though it wouldn't have been my first instinct to adjust the microphone before hugging her.

What do you think?

[Not That Guy]

farewell speech?
Is he going somewhere

[Jen]

Apparently not. They've not buried him yet.

I think my theory that they're going to fix him up and keep him in a glass coffin like Eva Peron may hold water.

[Courtney]

Yeah, I thought that whole speech was somewhat exploitive.

[Fi]

Eh, she wanted to speak. Everyone thought Janet had something to say but Janet handed it over to her.

And yeah, I thought this thread was going to be about the CFL player

http://www.reebokfootball.ca/ufiles/player_366804_09CFL_PlatformEN-jackson.jpg

[Jen]

Hahaha, I'd never heard of him.

I'm not against her speaking if she wanted to say something. Of course she should have been allowed to speak if she wanted to. But, given the family history of pushing children towards stardom at the expense of any sort of a normal childhood, I think it's good that people are asking questions.

[Dan]

Eh, she wanted to speak. Everyone thought Janet had something to say but Janet handed it over to her.

And yeah, I thought this thread was going to be about the CFL player

http://www.reebokfootball.ca/ufiles/player_366804_09CFL_PlatformEN-jackson.jpg

What's wrong with his head?

[Brad]

he tried to swallow a football but it got stuck.

[Jen]

Anyone know if there's truth to the rumours that Joe Jackson wants the kids to form a singing group? I've only seen it reported on Stuff NZ, which is a reputable source, but seeing that it seems to be the only source reporting it, I'm not sure whether to trust it.

[Angel]

I heard that they're going to perform at the concert Michael was going to be doing.

[Jen]

I haven't heard any more on this for a few days, nor have I heard it reported outside of the New Zealand news... weird. Sounds like the kids want to live with Janet, though, not with Joe.

[Not That Guy]

Once again.....who cares

[Jen]

I find it kind of sickly fascinating how quickly these kids' lives have changed from having to wear masks virtually everywhere they went to talk of pimping them out on stage because their dad died. I'm surprised Michael didn't write more about how he wanted the kids raised in the will, in fact.

[Fi]

Well their dad was the only one who truly got it, in terms of what the media would do to them. The rest of the family just wants their $$$.

As far as writing how you want your kids raised, there's nothing binding about it. That's probably why he didn't bother.

[Jen]

Well their dad was the only one who truly got it, in terms of what the media would do to them. The rest of the family just wants their $$$.

As far as writing how you want your kids raised, there's nothing binding about it. That's probably why he didn't bother.

For most people, I'd agree--there's nothing binding about it, so why bother.

For Michael Jackson, whose will and intentions would be read by millions of people, I think a "don't pimp out my children for money after I die" clause would shame some people enough that the kids' monetary value as "The Jackson Three" would go way down.

I don't think Michael Jackson honestly believed he was going to die.

[Fi]

For Michael Jackson, whose will and intentions would be read by millions of people, I think a "don't pimp out my children for money after I die" clause would shame some people enough that the kids' monetary value as "The Jackson Three" would go way down.


I doubt it. You're talking about the same culture that enjoys shows like "Dating in the Dark" and "Hitched or Ditched"

I don't think Michael Jackson honestly believed he was going to die.

Maybe. He told Lisa Marie Presley he was going to end up live Elvis.

[Jen]

I doubt it. You're talking about the same culture that enjoys shows like "Dating in the Dark" and "Hitched or Ditched"


But those shows have willing participants. It's different when the show is publicly shamed as having exploited children. For example, did "American Kids," the American Idol for 10 year olds, become popular? What about that Lord of the Flies reality show?

Maybe. He told Lisa Marie Presley he was going to end up live Elvis.

I think he said it. I'm not sure he believed it given that he kept popping pills.

[Fi]

It's different when the show is publicly shamed as having exploited children.

You mean like the Pagent Moms show that was pretty popular? Or Half Ton Teen?

I think he said it. I'm not sure he believed it given that he kept popping pills.

I think he had just accepted it. He also had a lot of bad people around him, encouraging him.

[Jen]

Hmmm... I'd love to do a study on which potentially exploitative shows become hits and which are kind of shunned.

I'm not saying that the pageant shows are morally better than something like the Lord of the Flies or American Kids, but the pageant shows document parents exploiting their own children. In a sense, the shows pass judgment on these parents. Or at least that's how I've perceived them--you walk away from it thinking, "My, I didn't know that kind of thing really existed. Someone should put a stop to it. On the other hand, if the producer sets up the exploitative situation or you're participating in the show by voting for which little performer you like the best, you feel dirty.

[jimmy]

All I can say is that this is a really sad story for everyone involved. I have no doubt MJ did his best to shield the kids from the media circus that plagued his life. He was surrounded by sycophants and enablers who just let him die.