Jackson's Kids Emerge from Behind the Veil

(AP)  Michael Jackson's three young children, after a lifetime of fierce protection from the prying eyes of the world, came out into the open Tuesday for the most public and heart-wrenching debut imaginable.

Before an audience of thousands at the Staples Center and millions more around the globe, 12-year-old Michael Joseph Jr., known as Prince Michael; 11-year-old Paris-Michael; and 7-year-old Prince Michael II, known as Blanket, sat in the front row, taking in their father's memorial service at Staples Center.

Gone were the veils, the party masks and the guarded gates and walls that kept the Jackson children hidden from view for more than a decade.

Those were replaced with images of their young faces up on stage as the ceremony came to a close, comforting one another and fidgeting as kids will: Prince chewed gum and toted the memorial service program; Paris turned a small patent-leather purse over in her hands; and Blanket held his program and clutched a Michael Jackson doll.

And in a moment of almost shocking openness, Paris went to the podium to address the crowd, fighting back sobs in the ceremony's defining moment.

"Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine," she said, her tiny voice cracking. "And I just wanted to say I love him - so much."

Photos of the children's faces, which eluded the paparazzi for years, had leaked out recently, and were widely circulated in the days after Jackson's death June 25. But the live images of the children - Paris in a black dress with white trim and the two boys wearing the same dark suit and yellow tie as the rest of the men in the Jackson family - represented their first true coming-out for the youngest generation of Jacksons.

Watch Paris Jackson's emotional statement at her father's public memorial service:


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[Illuminated1]

I feel sorry for the children being used by all since birth.
As it turns out Michael Jackson is not the father of the kids.
I always knew his freekeness would go too far.
The children were deliberately born in this manner as well, a perversion against all that is good.
He did not legally adopt the children so how is his claim legal...it seems to me somebody is in violation of child adoption laws and this deserves serious attention as the whole way these kids have been sheltered and brought up in an unhealthy environment.

[BREJONTE]

SHUT THE F UP U KNOW U WISHED HE ADOPTED U OR YOUR KIDS WATCH UR MOUTH!!!RIP MICHAEL I GOT UR BACK I CAN SPEEK FOR MICHAEL ......WORRIE ABOUT UR OWN KIDS YOUR SO INTRESTED....

[Illuminated1]

no really he is getting more protection than the texas mormans did, with mass seperations from the mothers remember?
In this case, MJ was not father, mother was invetro, and real fathers are not established, but one has been identified as a likely sperm donor..
So this being the truth, how is MJ in any way legally dad?

[blog_fever2]

God allowed MJ to die to prove a point... It doesn't matter how larger than life you are... God is still in control.

[edgy44]

He killed everyone in a flood once. Better watch your own back bible-boy.

[mom14527]

Are you for real? God does not take people's lives to prove anything! Where are you getting your information from?

[Questionews]

I think it's only been in the last couple days that I have seen MJ's kids without being cloaked in black tarps. Even indoors! It must be a strange experience for them to be seen without their body blankets.

[lossofaparent]

I cannot believe some of the outrageous comments I have seen about being glad someone is dead and a child faking the mourning of their father. I have children that lost their father at that age not to mention myself losing my father as a child too. It is utter ignorance and heartless to be so cruel. Wow!?

[BREJONTE]

THANK YOU IT PISSES ME OFF TO SEE THE STUPID COMMENTS ALSO.THIS IS A CRUEL WORLD. NOT ENOUGH PRAYER ON EARTH....

[andie52]

How would those children know what being a? good father? even means? They have been kept away from the real world until now.
Also the sperm/egg donor must have been the same for both of the older children; the facial features are very similar; especially the ears.
What a shame Jackson was able to buy babies. These children will carry the stigma of all of this for the rest of their lives.

[lossofaparent]

Why is it a shame to so call buy babies. As someone said earlier. Not everyone is blessed enough to have their own child, however, that is why there are people in the world willing to bless someone else whether it be invitro, adoption, or sarrogote. Do you know whether you had a good father? or what it means? Give me a break. Stop all the hateful comments.

[Amit2k]

I must say you must be very stone hearted, to think she was acting.

[poochie44]

That was a great act that little girl put on. I wonder who put her up
to getting up to the mic and faking it.
Will she come out in later years to tell us what a wacko he was?
I don't doubt it.

[u-r-right]

Most of them showed emotion in a theatrical sense but I didn't see any real tears running down their face. Brooke Shields was the only one who seemed to really get teary eyed.

[realnews12]

Faking it ? Omigod, you are a hateful wacko yourself. Maybe you should re-examine your hateful assumptions about MJ and understand that he was a caring, loving human being with tremendous love for his family. His little girl and all of his family and close friends -- those who, unlike you, actually KNEW him -- attested to that. Yet you accuse a little girl of faking her obviously heartfelt emotion. Unbelievable.

[mollybee5]

I hope these children find peace in their lives...and that they stay together, it was obvious that they are very close to the Jackson family and splitting them up would be terrible for them...also, it's a shame that it had to take MJ to die before we saw the human side of this man...as his family and friends knew him.

[michaelm07]

Enough already, these kids have issues that will keep Psychologists busy and well paid for years. Please, CBS, NBC, ABC ad everyone else, enough already with this stuff. A talented man yes, but end it already and get back to news that has meaning. We don't care about the Paris Hiltons, the Jackson's, and the rest of the vapid celebrity culture. Please leave that to the Jerry Springer's of the world.

[robinspp]

Those, whom brought Michael in to the court, will die with guilt.

[mom14527]

AMEN AMEN!!!