Michael Jackson’s Death 5 Years Later: Where Are His Kids Now? [PHOTOS]
Wednesday marks five years since Michael Jackson passed away, but his legacy lives on and it’s not just a hologram.
The King of Pop left behind three children—Prince, 17; Paris, 16 and Blanket, 12—who reportedly “rejoice in the memory of their father every day” since his untimely death.
Jackson died on June 25, 2009 from an overdose of propofol, which he used for a sleep aid, and cardiac arrest. His death sparked a worldwide period of mourning with an estimated one billion people tuning into his public memorial service. The three children were present for the televised funeral on July 7, 2009, where a then-11-year-old Paris made a heartbreaking speech.
"I just want to say ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you can ever imagine," she said, crying. "And I just want to say I love him so much."
Prince stood by his sister on stage silently next to Blanket, who was holding a Michael Jackson doll.
But over the past five years, Jackson’s children have not been in the public eye as much as their famous father and are reportedly being raised by Jackson’s mother, Katherine.
"The children are really well-adjusted, normal kids, as normal as any child can be with the loss of a parent," a family friend told ABC News.
Paris, though, may have taken Jackson’s death the hardest. The 16-year-old was rushed to the hospital following a suicide attempt last June. The teen was reportedly dealing with symptoms of depression and cut her wrist. ABC News’ source said she is “finding her way again.” A source told E! News a similar report about Paris’ well-being: "She is doing a lot better. She is getting back to normal. I think she has made quite a bit of progress over the past year."
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Prince is an honors student at a private school in Los Angeles and is “deeply focused on his schooling.”
"Prince knows he can do things in the entertainment business and surely will, but school is priority,” a source told ABC. “He has the grades to show it."
Prince was seen last Thursday at the “True Blood” final season premiere. The teen told Entertainment Tonight last year he wants to be “well-rounded as a producer, director, screenwriter and actor.” Prince works as a special correspondent on “ET” and appeared in an episode of “90210” last year.
Blanket, who is 12, "is fabulous and focused in karate at a competitive level,” the source said. CNN reported he is being home-school.
Both boys live with Katherine Jackson in a gated luxury neighborhood in Calabasas, California. Paris is currently living away from her two brothers at an undisclosed school since the suicide attempt.
According to ABC, all three children talk about their late father regularly.
"They rejoice in the memory of their father every day, whether they are speaking about him to each other or with family members or a complete stranger asks them how they are doing," the source said. "They handle themselves very maturely and when they speak of Michael. They are truly happy, but miss him dearly."
Here are photos of the three children over the past years, starting with the most recent.
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