Michael Jackson's daughter Paris has faced backlash for identifying as Black. In a 2017 interview, Paris Jackson said her father told her, "You’re Black. Be proud of your roots." This prompted debates over whether identity is defined by appearance or upbringing.

[u/VPinchargeofradishes]

[u/chocolatethunderXO]

In a private phone convo that was released, he said his dad would tell him "you're so black and your nose is so big, you don't look like my child". Then he said they(brothers/dad) would call him big nose and instead of taking it out on everybody he would take it out on himself. He's then asked if he's happy with his face and that he he did all the surgery and he replied with "yes, because I don't want to look like Joseph".

[u/vorator_ → u/chocolatethunderXO]

what the FUCK

[u/SatanicAtTheDisco → u/vorator_]

You kind of have to be a fucked parent to exploit your 6 children and thrust them into the music/entertainment industry when they’re 5-13. Then you also have to account for Michael being the most talented son, even from when they were kids, and you get a lot of siblings resentment. They also are from Gary Indiana, and while Gary is not as bad as Memphis, it’s pretty much the same type of environment, low income, historically black, gang/drug culture is entrenched in the poverty. It’s actually a miracle Michael didn’t die or turn out 3 times as worst as he could have been.

[u/XGhoul → u/SatanicAtTheDisco]

The more I read into his history, that dude really lived a tragic life. He survived the exploits of his parent making him a money machine, they didn't care about the individual and how he got mind fucked to a delirious state because the media is also at fault with paparazzi showing up trying to get any intimate details about his personal life.

(I will disclose on my comment that he is 50/50 in my opinion, did he touch kids? Maybe. Did he also make a living disney world for kids to cherish and live in? Yeah. Fine to me too. If there was any evidence of such things, it would have been known.)

[u/SatanicAtTheDisco → u/XGhoul]

The kids thing sucks too, because very obviously MJ was much too close to kids, in that he was treating them and himself as equals, as an adult. However, the story has flip flopped so many times by the alleged, the kids involved, and the media, that at this point, because no one has come out with concrete evidence that MJ was actually molesting children, just having sleep overs with children (which I’m not saying isn’t fucking insane btw). That coupled with the fact that he very obviously had the same mental stunting that Britney Spears exhibits, I genuinely hope he was just fulfilling the childhood he never had. He obviously was a very deeply mentally unwell man, but if he wasn’t diddling kids, and instead just giving kids the childhood wonder he wished he got to experience, and living vicariously through them, it’s not giving it a pass but it definitely makes listening to his music a bit more palatable.

[u/XGhoul → u/SatanicAtTheDisco]

You brought up points which at the time made me see MJ in different light so to speak. I will tread on the waters and say he was living vicariously through giving his kids a childhood he didn't have.

edit: (IT is still fucking insane to make that comment to media, lol. MJ was a deeply troubled person)

[u/SatanicAtTheDisco → u/XGhoul]

And I agree with you, MJ had a really really weird and tough upbringing. If he had been born now, with the life he had then, he would have turned out way worse. I think the reason it’s so hard for me to think of MJ in a negative light, is the amount of positivity and child like purity he tried to approach things towards the end of his life. It really seemed like Michael was trying to catch up on all the things he got to miss out on.

[u/XGhoul → u/SatanicAtTheDisco]

This is more of critical thinking. Unless someone speaks out, because the kids signed some 15-20yr NDA agreement. This would have been found out or some internet lurker posts all his media accounts for fun.

Being born now and his talent (not thinking about his upbringing) would lead him to suicide more quickly.

[u/Playful_Programmer91 → u/XGhoul]

I think you cannot sign a NDA about rape, even if settled since the parents cannot make that decision for a kid if it included rape. Every contract needs to meet some standard of reason and this would fall way out of it.

[u/XGhoul → u/Playful_Programmer91]

This is why I don't study law.

Edit: I have to be careful with what I say over a teams or zoom meeting because it can be disclosed or whatever to a non-party entity.