Today in a Good Morning America interview (watchable here) with 79-year-old family patriarch Joe Jackson, interviewer Chris Connelly asks whether he sees any performer potential in Michael's three children. Joe's response? "I keep watching Paris, she maybe wants to do something, you know. And Blanket, he can really dance, that's what they're saying. He can really dance."
It's nice, in one sense, to have their grandfather forge a connection between the singing and dancing genius of his son and the perhaps-blossoming talents of his grandchildren, but it also feels a little .. too soon.
Especially since Joe has already demonstrated a distinct lack of couth, pitching the launch of his record label on the BET Awards red carpet only days after Michael's death, and is well-known for his hard-driving ways with the Jackson 5 — and Michael in particular — in their youth.
What do you think, readers? Michael purposefully kept his children's lives low-profile — even their faces were rarely seen or photographed in public — until his passing, and now they are very much in the spotlight, through no choice of their own.
Should any natural entertaining talents they have be developed, or is it grossly inappropriate to even discuss something like that while they are very much still grieving for the loss of the father? If Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and Blanket, 7, are indeed left in Joe and Katherine Jackson's care full-time, will their entering showbusiness in some capacity be inevitable?
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Comments (1-30) of 135 Add your comment
“Natural,” as in “inherited?” I don’t think anyone really believes these are really Michael Jackson’s biological children in the first place.
Keep Joe Jackson away from those kids.
Well, since Joe and Katherine are married in name only and have lived seperately for years, I don’t think the rest of the family will let him go near the kids. There was a reason MJ only mentioned his mother as his kids’ guardian.
Who saw that coming????? The man is all about exploiting his family.
Disgusting. They have enough money. They have enough fame. Let these children chart their own course in life.
Jeez, these kids are greiving the loss of their father and Joe is allready talking about exploiting them also, what a suprise. I do not believe D. Rowe should try for custody, but do believe she should fight hard for a restraining order that he have nothing to do with these three children without a court ordered guardian present.
As for the question of Michael being the father, why dosen’t the media just leave it alone, he raised them, loved them, they obviously loved him, biology dosent matter, love does.
Joe will always be a jerk. It always has to be about him, right?
Let the kids be kids, let them grieve for their dad, let them decide what do with their lives.
Joe Jackson should be kept as far away from Paris as possible. From all indications, Michael was a great father and his kids have been raised in a manner of culture and elegance that Joe simply cannot relate to..i.e., “feed them what they should be fed.” A stupid comment from a stupid man. An article indicates that Paris wants to be a fashion designer and I’m sure Michael would not have interfered with her future choices. He wasn’t living with Katherine at the Encino house which is owned by Michael, so he should just leave and not tarnish the children. While with Katherine they should have access to the same nanny and tutors they have had in the past. Written articles indicate they are being well educated and public schools would not be in their best interests now.
Joe Jackson is REVOLTING.
Joe Jackson is a nasty-as*ed opportunistic Abuser who will do anything for money – like most of the characters around Michael.
Well if it is “grossly inappropriate to even discuss something like that while they are very much still grieving” then Chris Connelly is to blame. Joe simply answered the question. I have my concerns about the man, but now people are reaching to demonize him. The interviewer tried to stir up controversy. THAT was inappropriate. Not Mr. Jackson’s answer.
“Chris Connelly asks whether he sees any performer potential in Michael’s three children.”
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Excuse me, but that is the revolting part. You idiots are just taking the bait. JJ did not bring this up. If you noticed, he said that he as HEARD Blanket can dance. Quit trying to find reasons to hate people you don’t know. It is pathetic.
It’s inappropriate to even discuss it. Joe Jackson should have said no comment, further more the interviewer shouldn’t even asked the question. i’m questioning the “media” lately. Everything is about ratings it’s sad.
I think that it is too soon to be talking about any of the kids’ future careers, musical or otherwise. There was an interview that Michael Jackson did with Barbara Walters back in the 90s about 9 months after his first son was born. She asked him if he would let his son get into show business. His answer was yes, but he said that he would sit him down and tell him that there are good things and bad things about show business. Michael said that he would make sure that his son knew exactly what a career in the music business meant before letting him do it, but that the decision would ultimately be his son’s.
Already trying to turn his blood into stars??? Give it at least ten years! Damn, don’t ruin their childhood too!
Any talent they may have should be encouraged, as much as any other child should have talent encouraged (piano lessons, etc.). But to push them into show biz? Wait until they’re old enough to decide for themselves.
Joe is a genius, even Michael said so. It doesn’t matter…
Michael would be rolling in his grave if he knew this. He put masks on their faces to protect them when they were out. He wanted to give them a wonderful great childhood. He did not want them to be childhood stars. This is exactly what Michael would NOT want.
Keep Joe away. Maybe he is pissed Michael left his vast fortune to his mother and his children, but nothing to poor old Joe.
Say what you want about Michael, he was an excellent father. He made for certain his children were taken care of.
Why on EARTH would anyone let Joe Jackson anywhere near those kids?? Michael was very clear when he was alive about his feelings regarding his upbringing by Joe when he was alive, and he reinforced that with his will. Letting Joe get his greasy paws on them would be the ULTIMATE disrespect to Michael’s memory!!!
Totally inappropriated yes. Though the reporter should be the one at blame for bringing it on.
On a side note, Michael wasn’t the biological father so if they had any talent it wasn’t inherited.
I think Joe sees Michael’s death as his “in” back into the entertainment business and I think he see’s $$$ when he looks at those kids. Just another way to make money and a name for himself again. Keep him away from them.
Gross gross gross.
What do we think??? We think that it was inappropriate on the commentator’s part to ASK the question!! Joe Jackson just answered his question.
I don’t think too highly of Joe Jackson and I pray that the children don’t get involved in the business. Michael’s life was controlled by his father and not in a good way. Hopefully, Michael’s children will be left to make their own decisions about what they want to do in life.
Could Joe Jackson please shut up? I’ve so had enough of that man and his stupid comments.
To David: I believe he is their biological father!! But more importantly he is their dad…that little girls heartbreak told you Michael Jackson is her dad….so really DNA means nothing.
They should have kept the kids masked, this is clearly not what MJ wanted, he is indeed rolling over in his grave . .I didn’t want Debbie Rowe to get custody but if it means the kids living on a ranch far far way from the spotlight that might be best.
If question was not ask (media) Joe would not have to say anything about it. I don’t trust him but media always tries to stir up stuff the question should have never been asked. One thing for sure Michael loved them, I believe they loved him let him rest in peace, let them grieve in peace and live the rest of there lives as they choose.
if the kids want to be performers, then let them. they are individuals. not all child stars end up miserable. shirley temple is the biggest child star ever and she ended up ok. and wasnt janet jackson a child actress? she ended up ok too.
Whereas I don’t think it was an appropriate question to ask, I do feel Joe Jackson would be the worst thing to happen to these kids, especially given Michael’s comments regarding his upbringing and Joe’s pimping his own business interests inappropriately at the award show rather than showing grief over his son’s untimely death, and I might add sad life that he certainly played a huge hand in creating the insecurities Michael clearly had from childhood. I don’t necessarily think Debbie Rowe is the best one to raise them, but I do believe they need to be kept far away from Joe Jackson.
This guy is a scumbab and should be kept very very far away from these children. Unfortunately it apprears that he has that entire family whipped and completely afraid of him.
I really feel sorry that those kids are now subject to his antics.