Paris Jackson hospitalization: Proof of Jackson family disintegration
OPINION - It seems what Paris truly needs is an advocate who will fight for her health and emotional well-being...
It’s well known that Michael Jackson had a tough time facing the pressure that came with his incredible fame and celebrity — and “tough” is likely putting it too mildly. Now it seems that same intense spotlight and scrutiny has taken its toll on Jackson’s only daughter, 15-year-old Paris.
Reports flew yesterday that Paris was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital after an alleged suicide attempt. The teenaged Jackson reportedly overdosed on Motrin pills and cut herself with a knife in her Calabasas home.
The Jackson family says Paris is doing fine now — at least physically — and officials say her injuries weren’t life-threatening. Still, it’s heartbreaking to learn that a teenager who is still grappling to the loss of her parent may have made an attempt on her own life.
Michael’s death leaves nothing but dispute in its wake
It hasn’t been easy for Paris these past few years. Before Michael Jackson’s death, his children were rarely seen, covered by masks, disguises and blankets. But Paris’ heart-wrenching words for her father at his public memorial service catapulted her into the public eye, where she’s been experiencing teenage growing pains and family disputes ever since.
It wasn’t long after Michael’s death that the public got a true taste of the disputes and feuds within the Jackson camp. Soon after the burial, Michael’s siblings began wrangling for a stake in his estate, going toe-to-toe with Jackson’s lawyers and each other.
Last year, there was the odd disappearance of Katherine Jackson (who had become guardian of her son’s children) resulting in a Twitter rant from a 14-year-old Paris who demanded to see her grandmother and accused her uncles of lying and ignoring her pleas.
Now, the Jackson family is at war again, this time with AEG Live, the entertainment company responsible for Michael’s “This Is It” tour. The family contends that AEG is partly responsible for Michael’s death. AEG says Jackson’s family and children are just trying to extort the company out of money.
It’s all too much for a 15-year-old.
And it’s enough to make you wonder why no one seems to be looking out for the children, protecting them from media firestorms, public family disputes and excruciating legal proceedings.
It’s clear that Paris hasn’t been able to find peace after the passing of her father. TMZ quotes a law enforcement officer as saying that Paris didn’t want to die — rather, her apparent suicide attempt was more a cry for attention.
Who’s looking out for the kids?
Katherine Jackson, while legal guardian of the children, has been fighting her own battles with other family members and with AEG. Janet, who at one point seemed to be the Jackson sibling with the closest relationship to the children, doesn’t appear to be around as much, following a confrontation with Paris that was caught on video last summer.
And the teenager is more or less estranged from her uncles, having called Randy Jackson a liar on Twitter last year.
Paris has been spending more time with her mother, Debbie Rowe, in recent months. Rowe told Entertainment Tonight that Paris did, in fact, attempt suicide, and that the teen has had “a lot going on” as of late.
And while Paris has more than a million fans and followers on Twitter (many of whom sent their thoughts in prayers in light of her hospitalization), and an upcoming role in the film Lundon’s Bridge, it seems what Paris truly needs is an advocate who will fight for her health and emotional well-being.
‘Someone should give her a break’
Oddly enough, what seems to be the most concerned reaction to Paris’ hospitalization came from a lawyer for AEG Live, the company that the Jackson family is battling in court. “There’s a real person involved here,” said attorney Marvin Putnam to the Associated Press.
“There’s a 15-year-old girl and something incredibly tragic has happened that none of us know why and I think it would really be in everyone’s best interest and particularly in her best interest if rather than blowing this up into something else, that they were given a little bit of privacy to deal with something that has to be a tragic, tragic moment for all of them.”
Putnam continued: “She’s 15. Someone should give her a break.”
Veronica Miller can be found on Twitter: @veronicamarche.
