Paris Jackson covers Stellar Australia: Speaks on fame, growing up and finding her own voice
(DT) PARIS Jackson arrived at Stellar’s shoot 40 minutes late and profusely apologetic. She was bleary-eyed and in possession of a super-jumbo coffee — but this was no Hollywood hangover. Late the night before, she had arrived back home to Los Angeles after a mercy mission to Puerto Rico, the Caribbean island left in tatters by Hurricane Maria. She flew there and back in a day aboard a charter flight carrying relief supplies. In Aguadilla, a town that had been without electricity for weeks, she helped load the trucks with pallets of fresh drinking water before meeting some local kids.
“It puts a lot into perspective, when you show up with some 5000 pounds of supplies and it’s not even a fraction of what they need to get back on track,” Jackson tells Stellar.
Most celebrities would have contented themselves with a donation, but there’s nothing conventional about Jackson. She walks red carpets without make-up. She doesn’t shave her legs or armpits. She dresses like a Goa hippie from the ’70s, with music tastes to match. She posts unflattering pictures on social media. And she is more worried about the state of the world than her personal brand. “My activism and my work, such as missions like [Puerto Rico], are on the top of my list of priorities,” she says. “Almost everything I do comes back full circle towards this kind of work, including my job.”
“My activism and my work are on the top of my list of priorities. Almost everything I do comes back full circle towards this kind of work, including my job.” (Pic: Nino Munoz for Stellar)
While the 19-year-old model and actor wears her heart on her Instagram sleeve, there is one sacred part of her life she fiercely protects: her relationship with her father. The topic of Michael Jackson — the late, great, and perennially fascinating music icon — is a no-go with his daughter.
But it is clear he is never far from her thoughts. She has nine tattoos devoted to him, including the word “Bad” in those bold, red capitals on her right hand and “Queen Of My Heart” in his handwriting on her left.
Earlier this year, Jackson starred in a music video for a musician friend. She dances, runs and rides a bike through the woods, with her hair and Indian sarong flying in the wind. Singer Nahko described the song, ‘Dragonfly’, as a tribute to Jackson’s “self-discovery and transformation”. One lyric was particularly poignant: “I resist and I survive.”
Jackson was just 11 years old when her father died. At that point she did not have contact with her mother, a cosmetic nurse named Debbie Rowe who married Michael at the Sheraton Hotel in Sydney in 1996. She had spent her childhood cloistered at Neverland Ranch, a world that outsiders questioned but Jackson remembers as joyous and idyllic. And then it all fell apart.
At his memorial service, the little girl whose face her father had always shielded from prying eyes faced the world. “I just wanted to say, ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine,” she said through her sobs. “And I just wanted to say I love him so much.”
At her father’s memorial service in 2009 with (from left) Janet Jackson, her brother Blanket, La Toya Jackson, Jackie Jackson and brother Prince Michael. (Pic: Getty Images)
Given the intense media fascination that continues to surround her family, Jackson is understandably wary of the press. Her interviews are rare, and when they do happen are generally conducted via text message. For her cover interview with Stellar, she agreed to respond to our questions on email.
While any inquiries about her father are gently rebuffed, she does occasionally open up about him on social media. “Birthday wishes to the one person who showed me what passion truly was,” she wrote on Instagram in August. “I will never feel love again the way I did with you.”
Over the years Jackson has been open about her struggles after her father’s death, which included drug addiction, self-harm, and several suicide attempts in her mid-teens. But a stint at a “therapeutic school” that specialised in grief management helped her heal. When she turned 18, Jackson began revealing herself to the world on Instagram, like a butterfly emerging from a dark and torturous cocoon.
Since then, things have happened quickly for the idiosyncratic teenager with the striking green eyes.
Already Jackson has been signed to IMG Models, shot for Chanel, and appeared on the cover of international fashion magazines. She has made her acting debut in next year’s Gringo, directed by Australia’s Nash Edgerton and starring his brother Joel. Yet none of this is as important to Jackson as activism. She is determined to use her fame as a platform, whether it’s helping struggling communities in Puerto Rico or visiting Malawi as an ambassador for her godmother’s charity, the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.
#RHoA: Kenya Moore Regrets Not Inviting Her Dad to Her Wedding: 'I Really Wanted Him There'
When Kenya Moore and husband Marc Daly said their “I dos” at a beachside elopement in St. Lucia this past June, they did so surrounded by a small group of friends and family — including Moore’s Aunt Lori (who has been featured alongside her on The Real Housewives of Atlanta), her Aunt Lisa (who stood by Moore as her matron of honor) and Moore’s best friend from high school, Shonda.
But one person was notably missing: Moore’s father, Ronald Grant.
At the time, the 46-year-old reality star told PEOPLE that Grant was celebrating his birthday in Jamaica during their nuptials. “It was so last-minute, he couldn’t make it,” Moore said, explaining that best friend and frequent RHOA guest Brandon DeShazer instead walked her down the aisle. “But Brandon was there, which was super special to me.”
Turns out, that wasn’t the whole truth.
On Sunday’s RHOA season 10 premiere, Moore opened up about the real reason her father wasn’t at her wedding in a tearful call to Grant, who had only heard of her nuptials in the press. (PEOPLE broke news of Moore’s wedding exclusively.)
“I decided not to invite my father because you never know what he’s going to say,” Moore confessed to viewers. “He can’t be controlled. And I didn’t want there to be anything at my wedding to upset my future husband. I didn’t want anything to spoil my wedding day. … I knew that if he said the wrong thing — and I know my husband — [it would mess up everything].”
“I definitely went away and eloped because I just didn’t want it to be full of drama,” she told her dad. “Remember, I tried to talk to you before about it, and you kind of said some things that wasn’t necessarily encouraging.”
Grant has certainly been outspoken on the hit Bravo reality show in the past, especially last season when he gave Moore’s emotionally abusive and violent ex-boyfriend Matt Jordan a well-needed lecture on how to treat his daughter right. But his intention was never to isolate his daughter or to be cut off from her big day.
“In my mind I never came across like that,” he told Moore. “I was just telling you to be cautious.”
Moore didn’t understand. “That’s the whole point,” she told Grant. “Why say that to me if I really found a really great man for a change? I’ve been through so much.”
He remained insistent, though. “That’s why I was saying be cautious,” Grant said. “Nobody wants to see their kid hurt. I’m just sorry that you felt like that. You think I didn’t want to be there? It’s the day I’ve been waiting for all your life.”
It was then that Moore finally seemed to understand, breaking down in tears. “I’m sorry that you missed it,” she said. “I really wanted you there.”
“Family has always been extremely important to me,” Moore continued. “Do I regret not having my dad walk me down the aisle? Yes. Every little girl wants their dad to walk her down the aisle. But I appreciate that my father was trying to protect me.”
Before he hung up, Grant wanted his daughter to know that he was still there for her. “I am ecstatic for you,” he said. “I am looking forward to meeting the the guy. And you know, just welcome him into our family. Congratulations. I love you.”
She couldn’t have been more thrilled to hear that. “Thank you dad,” a smiling Moore said. “I love you.”
The Real Housewives of Atlanta airs Sundays (8 p.m. ET) on Bravo.
#EMPIRE: Taraji P. Henson Lists Condo in Chicago High-Rise
With freshly refinished dark brown hardwood floors and an aggressively neutral paint scheme, the Windy City aerie features a wedge-shaped living room with a faux fireplace and a wall of windows fitted with electronic shades plus an ample dining room that comfortably seats eight or ten and an open-plan kitchen with dark chocolate colored cabinetry, speckled dark taupe granite counter tops and medium-grade stainless steel appliances. All three bedrooms, two with newly installed cream-colored wall-to-wall carpeting and the third with hardwood floors, have electronic black-out window shades and a small, shard-shaped and glass-railed balcony off the dining room will surely frighten the socks off acrophobics but nonetheless offers a spectacular, bird’s eye view over Lake Michigan, the Navy Pier and the Ohio Street Beach.
Henson, who has a handful of high-profile projects in the hopper including the bio-drama “Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said?” and the titular role in the upcoming action/thriller “Proud Mary,” substantially upgraded her residential circumstances in Los Angles last year with the $6.45 million, off-market purchase of a secluded residence perched on a private hilltop above Laurel Canyon. The veteran actress additionally owns a Spanish-style residence in the hills above Glendale, Calif., she bought in 2002 for $431,000 and recently made available as a rental at $4,750 per month as well as a 4,200-square-foot three-story, vaguely Moorish villa in the hills above Beachwood Canyon she acquired in 2010 for $1.695 million and, after almost two unsuccessful years on and off the market at steadily declining prices, currently has available at a recently reduced ask of $2.598 million.
Listing photos: Homesmart Connect.
#NEWMUSIC: Stream Lalah Hathaway’s new CD ‘Honestly’
Legendary singer Lalah Hathaway has just released her latest album “Honestly”, and you can stream it now in its entirety via Spotify.
Featured on the album is the current hit single “I Can’t Wait”. The song has already reached the Top 25 on Urban A/C radio, and will surely continue it’s ascent to the top in typical Lalah fashion. She released the visual for the song last month.
STREAM IT HERE
The upcoming album will be her eight overall, and the first since the release of the Grammy Award winning “Lalah Hathaway Live” in 2015.
Meek Mill Sentenced To Two To Four Years In Prison For Violating Probation
Meek Mill is reportedly heading back to prison. The Philadelphia rapper has been sentenced to two to four years after a judge ruled that he violated his probation, TMZ reports.
In March, Meek was arrested for a misdemeanor assault in St. Louis, and in August, he was arrested again for reckless driving and reckless endangerment in New York. Charges from both of those incidents were dropped, but in a Philadelphia court on Monday (November 6), a judge ruled that the arrests were violations of his probation for a 2009 drug and gun conviction.
In 2014, Meek was sentenced to three to six months in jail for another violation, and his probation was extended by nearly a decade. Then in February 2016, he was sentenced to 90 days of house arrest for a violation of his parole. Since that arrest, Meek Mill has released his third studio album, Wins & Losses.
Lamar Odom Collapses at L.A. Nightclub
In a video posted by TMZ, the former Lakers star fell to the ground in his VIP booth at the Sunset Strip nightclub.
“Move! Get out of the way!” security guards could be heard yelling as they rushed to help Khloé Kardashian‘s ex-husband, who had slumped forward. The men got Odom, who was wearing a black hoodie, back up onto a banquette but he appeared to be dazed.
TMZ reports that the incident happened at about 2 a.m. and the person who shot the video told the website that he saw Odom, 37, drinking for several hours before the incident.
WATCH HERE (H/T Supreme Video Youtube)
“Lamar is doing great,” his publicist Eve Sarkisyan told Us Weekly on Sunday evening. “He was dehydrated last night and it was really hot in the club. He had an intense workout earlier yesterday and did not get enough fluids.”
#OHMY! Tamar Braxton’s Mother Fears Vincent Herbert Will ‘Hurt’ Her Daughter
Tamar Braxton’s mother Evelyn says she is concerned about her daughter’s safety. The “Braxton Family Values” star spoke with TMZ about Tamar’s pending divorce from her estranged husband Vincent Herbert.
“I don’t really have anything to say to Vince,” she said. “Only one thing: Keep his hands off of my child. Stop before he hurts her or kills her. I love them but I don’t want him to kill my child. It’s as simple as that.”
WATCH HERE
She went on to say that Herbert needs help. “I think that if a person really means what they’re doing, they’ll go to get help, they’ll get counseling, right?” she added. “I think he needs to go and get counseling. I really and truly do, before someone gets killed.”
For his part, Herbert has denied claims that he hurt Tamar. He is upset over Evelyn’s comments, especially because it could have an impact on their 4-year-old son Logan. According to the source, Herbert still has love for Tamar and plans to fight to win her back.
Tamar filed for divorce from Herbert following almost nine years of marriage. While Herbert wants to reconcile, Braxton is planning to move forward with the divorce and is requesting full custody of their son.
Selena Honored With Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
On Friday, the “Queen of Tejano music” joined the likes of Anita Baker, Michael Jackson, Louis Armstrong and many more on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Twenty-two years after Selena Quintanilla’s untimely death, the city of Los Angeles honored the singer with her own day and the Hollywood star.
Selena’s sister, Suzette, assisted in the creation of the special star and revealed her excitement to be a part of the moment. “They don’t give this honor to everyone, I’m so beyond honored…to be able to participate in the making of it, priceless,” Suzette said.
During the ceremony, the singer’s family and fans watched as the city unveiled the new star. The city’s Mayor said, “While she was taken from us way too early, we now have something permanent that generations after generations can see in the most famous neighborhood anywhere in the world.”
The songstress is among 34 entertainers who received a star this year, CNN reports.
See pics from Joe Budden & Cyn Santana’s Baby Shower
Former “Love & Hip Hop” stars Joe Budden and Cyn Santana celebrated their baby Budden in the oven with a fancy baby shower on Saturday (Nov 4).
The mommy-to-be looked absolutely beautiful and Joe was dapper for the occasion.
In post on her Instagram page, Cyn said the shower, powered by Events By Betsy, was “One of the best days of my life 💙.”
For Joe, the baby shower was an opportunity for a second chance.
He shared:This is special for many reasons…! I missed my first born’s shower for reasons that are more unimportant today than they’ve ever been… Thank you God for second chances.
See pics of the happy couple below.
Congrats to the happy couple!
See pics from The Soul Train Awards 2017 Blue-ish Carpet Arrivals
Soul Train Awards 2017 are being taped at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
Erykah Badu is returning to host the show that will feature performances by Keyshia Cole, Tamar Braxton, 112, Tank, Kirk Franklin, Demetria McKinney and more.
R&B icon Toni Braxton will receive the Don Cornelius Legend Award and SWV will be honored with the Lady of Soul Award.
See pics from the blue-ish carpet below.
LOVE, PEACE and SOUL!
#SERIOUSLY? Trump Says Deadly Texas Shooting Isn’t A Guns Issue, It’s A Mental Health Problem
“This is a mental health problem at the highest level.”…Yeah like your Presidency!
President Donald Trump responded to the deadliest mass shooting in Texas history by saying the attack was a result of “a mental health problem” and not due to lax gun control laws.
During a news conference Monday in Tokyo, Trump said it was “a little bit soon” to get into a discussion about gun control.
“This isn’t a guns situation,” Trump said, noting that a person in the crowd with a gun shot at the attacker and caused him to flee. “This is a mental health problem at the highest level. It’s a very, very sad event.”
The president woke on Monday morning in Japan to the news that a lone gunman had opened fire on churchgoers at a small Baptist church in rural Texas and killed at least 26 people and injured another 20. The dead and wounded range in age from 5 to 72 years old.
While answering questions in Tokyo, the president referred to the gunman, who multiple reports identified as 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley, as a “very deranged individual.”
The accused gunman was a former member of the U.S. Air Force from 2010 until his discharge in 2014. He was court-martialed in 2012 for assault on his spouse and their child, according to a USAF spokesperson.
Earlier on Monday, Trump tweeted his prayers to the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas, before giving an official statement on the shooting at a meeting with U.S. and Japanese business leaders in Tokyo.
Last March, Trump signed a law reversing an Obama-era rule that made it harder for individuals with mental illnesses to access guns. The signing took place with no cameras present and was applauded by the National Rifle Association.
#SADNESS! Father shoots and kills his son because he was GAY!
A 14-year-old boy was killed by his own father Thursday, and people close to the victim say that the man shot the boy out of homophobia.
Giovanni Melton was a student at Coronado High School in a suburb of Las Vegas, Nevada. Friends described him as selfless and charismatic.
“It’s just sad. He was young and he had a lot to live for,” senior Bailey Schultz said about Giovanni.
Giovanni and his older brother were living largely alone in a condo, according to neighbors, who knew the boys because they would often ask for food. Court records show that their mother abandoned them and an allegation of child abuse had already been made against their father Wendell, 53.
Sonja Jones, who described herself as Giovanni’s former foster mother, said that Wendell hated the fact that his son was gay. “Giovanni was abused physically and mentally and spiritually for many, many years,” she said.
“He hated the fact that his son was gay,” she said. “I’m sure that inside of his mind, he would rather have a dead son than a gay son.”
She said that the brothers told her that Wendell had once pulled a gun on Giovanni when he caught the teenager with another boy.
Wendell called police to the home at around midnight, and they found Giovanni shot. He died later that day.
The father has been arrested and is being held on charges of murder, child abuse, and prohibited person possessing a firearm.
“I hope they throw the book at him. I hope he never sees the light of day,” said Jones. “I hope every day when he looks in the mirror, he sees his son’s face.”
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘Wonder (Wo)Man’
Ohhh trust me. You’re making us all “Wonder” about some things right now.
EGGPLANT NATION: Meet NERD
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HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!
EFREM
