Ellen’s Interview with Paris Jackson (Video)

Last night, Ellen DeGeneres’s interview with Paris Jackson aired on American television. The interview was recorded on Tuesday. In the show, Paris’s brothers, Prince and Blanket, were also seated among the audience. Read the interview text below and download the video.

Many children, after seeing Michael Jackson dance, act, and perform on stage, have dreamed of entering the entertainment industry. Today’s artists—including Queen Latifah and Beyoncé, as well as Akon, Ne-Yo, Chris Brown, and many others—are among those children. According to Latifah, when Michael Jackson was a child, he showed her that the color of her skin would not be a limitation for her, and in this way he inspired her to become one of the most popular and admired figures in the industry.

But Michael has also been a source of inspiration for his children. As Paris, his daughter, says, it was her father’s life and career that encouraged her to become an actress.

In this interview, Paris Jackson said that her acting in the film was a long-cherished dream rooted in her childhood. She stars in the fantasy animated film Lundon’s Bridge, which you read about on this page.

It was just two years ago that Paris, at her father’s memorial ceremony, called him “the best dad in the world” while crying. She is now a 13-year-old teenager, but with her height of 170 centimeters and her eloquent way of speaking, she seems older than her age. Michael would surely be proud to see how his only daughter has become such a young and beautiful woman.

Paris talked about the masks she and her brothers wore on their faces in childhood. Although it was strange for them, they knew their father did it to protect them and to provide them with a normal life.

When the kids went out with Michael, they used masks. For years, no photos of them were available in the media, and no one recognized them. That’s why they could roam freely in the outside world without their father being present and without wearing masks, because no one bothered them and there was no threat of kidnapping.

Download the video of this interview here: Download.

Paris entered the stage with a dance move she says was designed with the help of one of her cousins (Dante, the son of Randy).

Ellen: What kind of dance was that? You just learned it?
Paris: Yes, my cousin designed it, and I named it Trillion.

(Ellen asks Paris to teach her the dance, and then Ellen starts dancing.)

Ellen: I don’t feel like I’m having that much fun with this dance. (laughs) When you were dancing, it was cool, but for me it’s not. Are you kidding me?! Are you trying to make me look stupid? (laughs) No, you intentionally designed a dance for me to do on the next show and make me look like an idiot. (laughs) Besides you and your cousin, who else does this dance?
Paris: I tried to make my softball team do it too.
Ellen: Do they do it?
Paris: No (laughs).
Ellen: Oh, I see! Well then, if your softball team doesn’t dance like that, I won’t dance either. That was a nice idea.

(Ellen then points out that Paris’s brothers are in the studio, and the camera shows Prince and Blanket.)

Ellen: It’s so sweet that your brothers support you so much, because this is your first TV show. Are you excited—are you a little nervous?
Paris: A little.
Ellen: But look at these people here—they seem so friendly and they like you.

(Audience applause)

Ellen: You’re acting in a movie. Is that something you’ve been looking forward to for a long time?
Paris: Yes, I love acting.
Ellen: And when did that interest start?
Paris: When I was a kid, I wanted to become an actress. Dad acted in the film Moonwalker. I knew he could really sing well, but I didn’t know he could act too. When I saw this film, I thought, “Wow! I want to be just like him.”
Ellen: How old were you?
Paris: I was younger than Blanket.

Ellen: And you told him (Michael) that you wanted to be an actress?
Paris: Yes, we would improvise roles together. He would give us short scripts. For example, he would say, “Okay, in this part you have to cry,” and I would immediately cry.
Ellen: You can cry on the spot?! I’m impressed. So you could pull it off in many places! (laughs) Because he didn’t know whether you were really crying or acting.
Paris: Well, a lot of the time I was getting away with it. (laughs)
Ellen: Interesting. Did all of you improvise with him, or just you?
Paris: Prince sometimes acted. Blanket was shy.
Ellen: Are you also interested in singing?
Paris: Well, I’m not Beyoncé (laughs), but I sing a little.
Ellen: Nobody is Beyoncé. Beyoncé is Beyoncé. So you sing. Do you play an instrument too?
Paris: I practice piano at home.
Ellen: So you’re more interested in acting than singing. And you don’t want to be a singer— is it because being Michael Jackson’s daughter and singing is scary because you’ll be compared to him?
Paris: I know I’ll be compared to him, but I’m still me.

(Audience applause)

Ellen: And you also like taking care of children. Is that another job you’re thinking about?
Paris: Yes, I love kids.
Ellen: Have you ever been a babysitter?
Paris: I’ve taken care of my relatives’ kids.
Ellen: Oh, the one who made Trillion? (laughs)
Paris: No, the one who is 19 years old and doesn’t need babysitting.
Ellen: What age children do you take care of?
Paris: Well, my cousins’ kids—Didi, who is 3 right now, and also Bryce. And I’d like to take care of younger kids who have just been born.
Ellen: Can you?
Paris: I don’t know. (laughs)
Ellen: So how much do you get paid?
Paris: Probably $10 an hour. (laughs)
Ellen: So people get $10 for babysitting for an hour? People think you don’t need to work, but you choose to work and make your own money. Do you think that will surprise them?
Paris: No, I don’t think so.
Ellen: But I think it will. (laughs) And you go to school. Do you always go, or do you study at home?
Paris: I studied at home for a long time, but then I went to Buckley.

Ellen: What’s school like?
Paris: I love it. It’s a completely different experience.

Ellen: Do they treat you differently there, or do you experience normal childhood?
Paris: I have a normal childhood. I’m treated like everyone else. When I went to school, they didn’t recognize me. I was happy and I said, “Yes! I have the chance to live normally.”
Ellen: They didn’t recognize you because you always had masks on your face, and that was definitely to protect you. But did you think it was weird back then?
Paris: I used to say it was stupid—why should I wear a mask? (laughs) But when I got older, I understood that he only wanted to protect us, and he explained the reason for it to us.

Ellen: So you knew who your father was back then? That he’s the biggest pop artist in the world?
Paris: When I was little, I didn’t know anything. I would say, well, he made a few songs and many other people did that too. (laughs)

Ellen: Well, he has more songs than many others. (laughs) In fact, he made a whole world of songs. His songs are really amazing. But have you listened to his entire catalog, seen everything?
Paris: I’ve memorized all his songs.
Ellen: Do you have a favorite song?
Paris: It’s hard to choose. 99% of my mind is filled with his songs.
Ellen: Besides Michael Jackson and Beyoncé, whose songs do you listen to?
Paris: Chris Brown, Mindless Behavior, Rihanna, Cod Play. I listen to different music styles.
Ellen: So you really love music, but you want to be an actress. Well, I’m predicting you’ll become a singer too. We’re going to take a short break, and when we come back, I’ll ask you about the most memorable thing your father ever told you—because it was interesting for me to hear. We’ll be right back.

Ellen: Okay, we’re here with Paris Jackson, who could be your babysitter in the studio. (laughs) If you have kids or little kids, she especially likes little kids.

Ellen: Okay, about this movie. I know you had a lot of suggestions, but how did you decide that Lundon’s Bridge would be your first film?
Paris: Lundon’s Bridge is about environmental pollution, and I know Dad always wanted to heal the world, and acting in this film would be a good way for me to continue his path and help the world.

(Audience applause)

Ellen: Trying to heal the world is a big commitment. I’m happy you’re continuing his path. Because he really cared—he sang a lot of songs about it, and he tried to make a change in the world. He said, “Love one another and be kind to each other.” And the income from this film also goes to charity.
Paris: Yes, 50% of the film’s and the book’s revenue goes to schools. I know there are many schools whose situation isn’t as good as my school’s. Also, Buckley has problems with sports funding and can’t set up the high school football team. Many schools can’t afford the costs of arts education and sports, which are the fun parts of school. (laughs)
Ellen: You also play sports. You said softball?
Paris: Yes, softball (like baseball). I love soccer. I’m also interested in basketball. But I’d rather watch basketball than play it.

Ellen: What sport are you best at?
Paris: Volleyball and soccer.
Ellen: And I know you love your brother Prince, and he’s your idol.
Paris: Yes, that’s true.
Ellen: And you want to do the things he does?
Paris: Almost.
Ellen: What was the newest thing he did that you did too?
Paris: Last year, when he was in eighth grade, he was on the school flag football team and played left tackle. This year, I’m in eighth grade too, and I play on the same team and in the same position.
Ellen: That’s great that you’re so close.

(Audience applause)

Ellen: I read this this morning. What was the most memorable thing your father ever told you?
Paris: He told me, “If people die tomorrow, remember everything I’ve told you!” And I listened to his advice, and I remember everything he has told me.

(Audience applause)

Ellen: That’s amazing. So you remember everything. I told you earlier in the extra time how proud I am of you. What a wonderful life you’ve had. We all miss him (Michael), and I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for you and how much you miss him. But you’re a very amazing girl and you have such a pleasant way of behaving.

(Audience applause)

Ellen then surprised her by giving her a clock and a chair with her name on it, in honor of Paris’s first feature film. Paris thanked her and showed the audience a heart shape with her hands.

Source: eMJey.com / ellen.warnerbros.com