What About Jackson's Kids?

*UPDATED!

While it seems many are mourning for Michael Jackson, I'm mourning, too, except I'm sad for the singer's three children; also the boys whose innocence was apparently destroyed by a man whose status as a pop-culture icon enabled him to skate past the law. (The best defense of libel is the truth you don't go buying off your accusers with millions and millions if you're innocent.)

I've read and watched many reports which assert that society drove Jackson to his death. Society had zip to do with Jackson's death, we didn't inject him with Demerol; I'm more concerned with the role society played in mischaracterizing this man's juvenile accusers as antagonists and overlooking his problems. In no other case would children who claim abuse be treated to such venom. Of course, I guess when you know people who were violated in their youth and when you're the parent to young boys, it changes your perspective a bit.

I'm also mourning for Jackson's three children. Debbie Rowe has surfaced again, albeit briefly, to say that she does not, contrary to the reports, want custody of the children.

"Michael was divorced, lonely and wanted children. I was the one who said to him, 'I will have your babies'. I offered him my womb - it was a gift. It was something I did to keep him happy. I went to the 'office', which is what we called the medical clinic. They impregnated me. It's just like I impregnate my mares for breeding. It was very technical. Just like I stick the sperm up my horse, this is what they did to me. I was his thoroughbred."

Rowe says that she and Jackson never slept together and that she was paid around $10 million to have babies for Jackson and then bow out.

"I was just the vessel. It wasn't Michael's sperm. I got paid for it, and I've moved on. I know I will never see my children again."

I realize that what I'm saying doesn't jive with some, but this is America the end. Jackson's quest for parenthood seemed motivated by his desire to accumulate more so than it exhibited his desire to selflessly nurture children. Most of us would have our children taken away if we were injecting ourselves with pain meds three times a day to the point where we were so strung out we were emaciated and had to rely on a wheelchair to move about. Of course, that's a perk of being rich: servants to do it all for you. It's not "neglect" if you have a nanny. Weren't people getting all up on the Gosselin's case for their lifestyle in front of the cameras? The well-being of those kids?

I give some kudos to Rowe for not chasing the money and taking custody of Jackson's kids (the youngest, a.k.a. "Blanket," is not Rowe's; he was from a donated egg) for the checks. It may sound harsh to some when she says that she doesn't want to be a parent, but at least she's being honest. She's still culpable for the kids' situation, though.

Look, I would love for all of the weirdness surrounding Jackson to be untrue. I was a child of the 80s and 90s; I watched "Thriller," I had a sequined glove, the MJ t-shirt, the silver socks; I made my mother hem up the ankles on my black pants and my grandmother loaded her tavern jukebox with Jackson songs just for me. I had every album pre-"HISstory" on cassette, multiple copies because I'd wear them out. It's harsh when you're a kid and you see the impropriety of someone you revered splashed across all the channels. I had no desire to wear my sequined glove again after that.

I just think it's about time people realize that the real victims here are the kids and to now focus on the welfare of Michael Jr., Paris, and Prince Michael (Blanket). Their man they called "dad" is gone, what will become of them? They were left a catalog of 200 unpublished songs, that may protect them financially, if they can fight off the leeches, but what about their emotional well-being? I can't imagine what their childhood has been like, following a man around the world who was at times, according to the kids' nanny, so penniless, she had to use her own credit card to buy them balloons for their birthday; or what it was like living with a parental figure who was tailed by molestation charges.

They're currently staying with Jackson's mother, Katherine, but whether or not that will change remains to be seen. Katherine just filed for guardianship. It seems ironic to me that the very people Jackson blamed in his Martin Bashir interview several years ago for ruining his life with their criticism and push for his celebrity would be the caretakers for his children, but if it is working out then I hope it continues to do so for the sake of his kids.

I sincerely hope the cycle doesn't repeat itself. I hope all involved find peace and that Jackson was able to reconcile his inner turmoil before he died.

*UPDATE: Michael Jackson is NOT the biological father - and Rowe is NOT the biological mother. Many are asserting that the father is his dermatologist.

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Comments

[LauraJT77]

Like you I too struggle with my feelings about this whole situation.
I just hope the children are able to move on and live healthy lives as much as anyone in their shoes would be able to.

[NormanB]

Amen. It's all about the kids at this point. I hope they find peace and aren't hounded every day of their lives. But it is doubtful with the way our society handles things. I'm sure US and In Touch, etc, will be following them for years to come. We won't know what the children's relationship with their father was like unless they decide to talk one day. But biological or not, he was their father. Death of a parent is hard enough as an adult. I feel for them.

[AmyC65]

I never knew it was publicly acknowledged that, biologically, those kids are not his. It is weird that he selected a donor and mother to create blonde, very white kids. And it was weird to me that at the BET awards, Jamie Foxx went on and on about how "he was a BLACK man, he belonged to us first and we shared him with the world." He didn't do much to associate with the black community, it seems.

[michele]

i have to say--his mother having custody is about the worst idea i have ever heard. she and joe are the ones who messed up their kids to begin with. they are the reason he was a nut. and frankly, and i just looked this up, katherine jackson is 79 years old and joe is about to turn 82. they are way to old to raise these children. they could die at any moment. is there not a single sane person in the entire jackson clan that could raise these children?

and for sure--his children wills suffer the most for this. he was the only father they knew. it is very sad.

[annie]

I agree it is a bad idea for his mother and father to have custody of those children. But who can raise them? I guess he died with no will or guardian appointed for those children. Very sad.

[Fairly Odd Mother]

I hope those kids go to one of Jackson's saner brothers. I couldn't tell you which one, but I'm hopeful someone turned out ok.

And, I'm glad Debbie is being upfront but it hurt my heart to hear how she speaks of those kids. And, I imagine that those kids will read those words someday and be severely messed up by them.

[DianaCLT]

The kids are biologically his. Debi Rowe said that she was injected with his sperm, as one would do to a horse. And he had a surrogate mom for the last one.

Yes - I do believe Jackson wanted to be white. Regardless, what a strange thing for Foxx to say. Jackson BELONGED to the black community? They owned him? And THEY shared him with the world? WTH? Was he not an individual, free to do as he pleased? I am (mostly) white. I do not BELONG to anyone. Nobody gets to decide if I am to be SHARED. Weird.

[DianaCLT]

Is there a single Jackson relative that is virtually unrecognizable to the public? Is there a single one that has chosed a quieter, more reclusive and loving family-centered life? If so - that's where the kids should be. None of us know what they look like. They were forced to wear masks and disguises every time they were in public. Would be so great if they could just take off those masks now, and live sane and peaceful lives.

[DianaCLT]

Dana - I love you. You have voiced so much of what I've been thinking and feeling.

The demonization of the victims in those cases...so horrible. And when MJ passed, there were some that suggested maybe those victims could finally have peace. But with people virtually sainting MJ since his passing - I can only think those victims continue to suffer. Yes - I get that he contributed to music. Yes - I get that he was a father and loved by many. But he was a human. A human with many faults. Not saying he shouldn't be mourned by some. Not saying I'm glad he's dead. But the hypocrisy I've seen in the past week is staggering. How many of us have condemned him for what he was accused of? How many of us have mocked him for how he lived and how he altered himself? How many of us ridiculed the bubble gum pop he made? And yet - with his passing - people developed instant amnesia of the past 20 years, and put him on a pedestal, as though none of the countless cover stories on him all these years had ever taken place. (I got RAILED on my own FB status, for voicing my opinion. Seriously - someone's MOM told me to go read some Bible passages! OY!) I do hope all the children in his life - those he raised as his own and those he allegedly hurt - do find peace.

[Chris]

What is most astonishing is how many seem to "know" the real Michael Jackson. Including those who commented here. How do you actually know the kids are not really his kids? Is there proof? Have you seen a paternity test? Debbie Rowe might have said it but it is also been disputed that she made that comment.
And do you really know he was a pedophile? Did you sit on the jury that saw and heard all the evidence (and concluded he was not guilty, btw)? Or do you just believe he was guilty because of his bizarre looks and often odd behavior, even though we all know that most criminals, including child molesters, look like you average Joe and tend to be your low key neighbor, someone you would never suspect. Many who are not guilty pay off those who bring frivolous law suits against them, because it is the better alternative in this day and age of media frenzy and a justice system that lets anyone sue anybody over anything. Settlements are certainly no proof of guilt!
As for his children: do you actually know what kind of relationship they have with their grandmother? You may also want to know that their grandfather does not live with his wife in California but instead resides in Las Vegas.
Bottom line, you actually know next to nothing about this family, other than what has been portrayed in the media, and we all do know how reliable those sources are.

[AmyC65]

I am just going by the quote used in the original story here, regarding the sperm donation. But, if they are his? They look very, very not like him.