Paris Jackson - AIBU?

[Labradorwhisperer]

Ok, I am not usually the sort to think to deeply about things like this, but this has been bothering me.

Paris Jackson is only a teenager. She was obviously sheltered from the media by her father and has lost him at a shockingly young age. She may have dreams of a career in music or acting, but she is teenager at the moment. She hasn't released any records, she hasn't been in any plays or films as far as I am aware of.

BUT I was reading a recent article online about her recently, describing how she gave an online tutorial on make up to her many "fans".

Can you imagine the pressure on this young person, who has "fans" for not doing anything yet, and is really only known because of her widely publicised life? It makes me feel very uncomfortable. Am I being unreasonable?

(Can I also ask you to be nice because I haven't really done this before) :)

Yanbu and it is nice of you to worry but, honestly, there are probably 10 million teenagers with more pressing needs that you could worry about.

You are only worried about her because she is a public figure.

So there is your perspective.

(Hope that was nice enough!)

Are you highlighting this person because of her alleged suicide attempt?

I don't think it fair that minors, regardless of celeb parents are deemed fair game by tabloid gossipers.

Thanks. I deliberately didn't "highlight" what she has done because I think it is wrong that she is fair game. I am also aware that there are many, many, children who are having a hard time, probably worse than she is. I don't think I really made my view clear. What I really worry about is as HollyBerryBush says. What kind of society do we have when not only are people like this "fair game", but actually are considered to have "fans"?

She's only 15 which is a difficult age for anyone, let alone someone who has lost her primary carer/father in terrible circumstances and she has such a lot to cope with, particularly the AEG trial, for which she has had to make a deposition recently. I think living with her mother for a time might be the best thing for her once she leaves hospital. Staying away from Twitter might be a good idea too. Just my opinion about something which I fully realise is none of my business.

But thanks for being nice :) I think I just wonder at what point we shifted from being fans of musicians and actors, to applying that sort of label to people who do nothing, to applying it to people who are actually quite vulnerable and in circumstances where it seems to be inappropriate, iykwim. Makes me wonder what sort of perspective today's children may be exposed to.

Sorry x post with Gruntfuttock

She was never going to have a normal childhood though was she.

Her mother sold her for cash and her father was a grade A drug fuelled nut job.

Though personally I agree with mintyy, there are many more teenagers deserving of support and sympathy.

YANBU, she must be under a massive amount of pressure and she shouldn't be spotlighted in the media.

I agree with Holly, she shouldn't be seen as fair game because of her family. She's fifteen, she hasn't chosen a celebrity lifestyle, although I think Twitter is something she might do well to avoid for a while. She needs her chance to grow up and grieve in private, and she needs someone strong with her best interests at heart to help her do that.

We only see what the press chose to tell us, but on that basis, she has a fractured child hood with a parental bereavement, is now domiciled with a very old set of GPs with rather extreme religious views, a whole bucket load of shite about her genetic origins, accusations about her father sexual proclivities - I cant even start on the mother!

No amount of money would compensate for that

The trouble is, from what I have observed with the Kackson family, who does have the children's best interests at heart? Kathryn Jackson is an elderly lady who didn't exactly do the best job of safeguarding her own children. I find it incredulous that Micheal would leave her the responsibility of caring for his very precious children. From what I have read the whole family fight and see the children as power tools and cash cows.

Micheal loved his children, and kept them out of the limelight. Since his death, Paris, in particular, has been wheeled out for public appearances, for interviews and even as a witness at several trials regarding her fathers demise and culpability. Just because she is in the limelight does not make her immune or her needs less important than any other adolescent going through a tough time.

She was doing her makeup tutorial on youtube, you'll find that there's a lot of teenagers on youtube doing similar with MILLIONS of followers that don't have famous family.

I suppose it's fairly impartial media and she's just doing the normal things that teenagers do.

She comes across as a lovely girl though. I hope she does well whatever she chooses to do.

Thanks for the context, MrsCumberbatch (nice name!). I think I just found the description of her as having "fans" very odd, which got me thinking.

I wish nothing but the best for her (and any other teenage trying to make their way in the world.)