Paris Jackson Fires Back at Death Anniversary Show Controversy
You probably need me to break this down: Paris Jackson isn’t apologizing for performing on June 25, the anniversary of her dad Michael Jackson’s death, despite a chorus of critics demanding otherwise. The 27-year-old singer, who’s currently on tour with Incubus and Manchester Orchestra, caught flak for a date she didn’t even choose. On June 13, she took to Instagram Stories (since expired) to address the uproar, per The Independent, writing, “So, people are mad again. One of the tour dates I’m supposed to be going out on tour with Incubus and Manchester Orchestra happens to be June 25, which is a very negative anniversary for me in my life and my family.”
Since Paris isn’t headlining those shows, she explained, it’s not her call which dates the tour uses. Sarcastically she asked, “So [what], I’m gonna tell ’em, ‘Sorry, guys, we can’t perform on this date?’” and capped it with a blunt “F— you.” That line, of course, went viral, with outlets from E! News to The Independent confirming the quote straight from her IG Story.
If you think this is her first public defense, think again. Last August, she fielded criticism for skipping a public celebration of what would’ve been Michael’s 65th birthday. “Today is my dad’s birthday and back when he was alive, he used to hate anybody acknowledging his birthday,” she explained in a video, per E! News. She reminded fans that her father didn’t want even his own family hosting parties in his honor. Despite the haters, Paris still paid tribute on stage that day: “He put 50 years of blood, sweat and tears and love and passion into doing what he did, so I could stand up here on stage, in front of you, and scream into a microphone. So I owe everything to him.”
Offstage, Paris is engaged to songwriter Justin Long and remains close with her brothers, 28-year-old Prince Jackson and 22-year-old Bigi Jackson. The trio has popped up together at events like MJ: The Musical’s opening night in March 2024 and the family’s annual Thriller Night celebrations. Through ups and downs, they’ve learned to navigate public scrutiny while honoring their father on their own terms.
So there you have it: Paris Jackson is doubling down on her right to tour when she’s booked, birthday bashes aside. Critics can simmer in their outrage, but she’s staying on schedule. Hopefully that wasn’t too much to unpack—glad I could clear that up for you.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! News, The Independent
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
