Prince Jackson has revealed his gut-wrenching reaction to watching his cousin play his father in a new biopic. In an Australian exclusive interview on Sunrise, the 29-year-old opened up about the deeply personal impact it had on him.
An Overwhelming Moment
Prince, who is also an executive producer on the film, said the moment was overwhelming. “It was really emotional because I hadn’t seen my dad in a long time. My gut reaction was I really just wanted a hug from him. And it felt just like my dad. I had to tell Jafar, like, ‘Hey, I love you. I think you’re doing great. But I need to take a moment’,” Prince said.
A Personal Touch at the Premiere
Attending the film’s premiere earlier this month, Prince wore a red armband made from the same fabric as one of his father’s iconic shirts. “That was the shirt of my childhood. Whenever I gave my dad a hug, it was that fabric. So to have that with me was amazing.”
Prince and his sister Paris were born to Debbie Rowe, Michael Jackson’s second wife, whom he married in Sydney.
What He Misses Most
When asked what he misses most about his father, Prince didn’t hesitate. “I really miss his laughter, his smile, and his grace. He had to deal with so much, and how he was able to navigate it. I wish I could ask him questions about that.”
Paris Jackson was 11 years old when his father Michael Jackson died in June 2009.
Rare Insight into the Father Behind the Persona
Prince shared rare insight into the father he knew behind the global persona. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned that a lot of what I think is normal life is not normal life,” he said. Growing up at Neverland Ranch, Prince said his childhood was filled with moments that felt “magical”. “It truly was and is magical. It felt like your own personal Disneyland.”
Despite the extraordinary life they were living, he said his father prioritised connection, treating his children as equals. “He was always on our level in a way, but he made it a point that he didn’t want people to speak to us as children. He wanted them to speak to us as an adult.” He described him as an “awesome” father, who was “really fun to just spend time with”.
Cherished Memories
The moments that stick with him, Prince explained, are the quiet nights spent together. “He’d wake me up at night. We’d go under the roof, and we’d look at the stars. Sometimes he’d tell me stuff about his life as a child or growing up or what he wants for me as I grow up. Those are the moments that I miss and that I cherish.”
Despite a childhood shielded by strict security and drenched in public scrutiny, Prince said his father helped him understand why they had to live such an isolated life. “I understand why we had to live the way that we did. And I also see a lot of effort that was put to kind of mitigate that isolation.”
Michael Jackson died in 2009, aged 50, after a career that made him one of the most influential entertainers in history. More than a decade on, his story is being retold on the big screen, with the biopic Michael now in cinemas.
