Michael Jackson's Unusual Rule: Paris Jackson Shares How Her Superstar Father Protected Her Childhood

Behind the glamour and scale of Michael Jackson's world lay strict discipline. His daughter, singer Paris Jackson, revealed that the King of Pop established firm rules to shield his children from stardom's pitfalls and give them a semblance of a normal childhood.

During a recent appearance on Alexandra Cooper's podcast Call Her Daddy, the 28-year-old Wilted artist shared memories of her upbringing. According to her, her father demanded strict adherence to responsibilities: the children had to finish their homework and complete household chores before earning the right to weekend entertainment.

"Neverland’s Rides Weren't for Us"

One of the most surprising revelations was how the family treated the famous Neverland estate. Despite the fact that an amusement park and a zoo were located right on the grounds, Paris and her brothers did not view it as their personal playground.

"We were made very aware that the rides [at Neverland] were not for us," Paris said. "That they didn't belong to us. That was for underprivileged kids and terminally ill kids who couldn't go to Disneyland."

According to the singer, this rule applied regardless of where the family lived, as they moved around frequently and rarely stayed in one place for longer than a year.

Michael Jackson also strictly limited television and movie viewing, and used masks during public outings to protect his children from paparazzi. Paris admitted that as a child, such measures seemed entirely logical.

"It made sense, because it was like, 'Oh, if you put this on now, then on the weekend we can safely go to Chuck E. Cheese and be normal kids because nobody will recognize you.'"

Although the masks helped maintain a degree of anonymity, Paris still understood the unusual nature of her position. However, she admitted that as a child she did not fully grasp the true scale of her father's fame—until she peeked out of a hotel window and once again saw "a sea of people with signs" when their cover was blown.

To recap, Paris is the only daughter of Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe. Alongside her brothers Prince and Bigi, she has forged her own path in the entertainment industry, making a name for herself in modeling, acting, and music.