Michael Jackson, the legendary pop icon, was one of the most photographed people in the world. His three children, Prince, Paris, and Bigi, grew up in the shadow of that fame.And even though his life was full of fame and glamour, his daughter Paris says one strict rule at home was meant to keep his children’s lives feeling normal.
5 Oct 2026 | 12:06
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The late King of Pop kept a firm hold on how his kids were raised, even though their upbringing was far from ordinary. Paris recalled that homework and chores had to be done before the weekend fun could begin. Television and movies were limited, and most interestingly, in public his children wore masks so that no one would recognise them.But why did he do so, and what makes this bizarre choice an interesting parenting habit?
Why Michael Jackson Made His Children Wear Masks in Public
Paris Jackson’s recently appeared on the Call Her Daddy podcast, hosted by Alex Cooper, where she opened up about her family’s unique habit of wearing masks in public, which had stirred controversy and questions.Paris said her father required the children to finish their homework and chores before they earned weekend fun. “The cool, like very consistent line throughout my childhood that kind of started there and then just continued on wherever we went was, if you’re good, and you do your chores, and you do your homework, and you do the things that you’re supposed to do. Then on the weekends you can go see some animals, and you can go ride some rides, and you can go to the movies”, she said.
Michael Jackson’s kids asked to wear facemasks in public to keep them away from the spotlight
He also limited television and movies, and had them wear masks in public to shield their identities from the intense spotlight, describing which, she said, “I mean it just, it made sense because it was like, ‘Oh yeah, if you do this now, then you can go to Chuck E. Cheese and be normal this weekend ’cause no one will know who you are,'”, and that ‘made sense’ to her.
Paris said they “hotel hopped a lot” and the same routine continued wherever they stayed
If the children’s faces were hidden, nobody would recognise them, and they could enjoy ordinary places like any other kids. Looking back, Paris said the practice never frightened her, and that she understood it as her father’s way of giving his children a chance at anonymity.However, the masks did not fully hide the truth. Paris knew her father was famous, but she did not understand the sheer scale of his celebrity, “I just didn’t know how famous … There was definitely part of me that, like when I looked out my hotel window, and it was one of the times where like the alias didn’t work and there’s just like a sea of people with signs and stuff – I’m not so naive to think, yeah, everyone experiences this, you know?”, she explained.Adding that she recalled looking out of a hotel window and seeing a huge crowd waiting outside, and said, “I just didn’t understand the lengths.”
