Paris Jackson, the only daughter of the late Michael Jackson, recently marked a transformative milestone in her life: five years of sobriety. Taking to Instagram on January 7, the 26-year-old model and musician shared her journey, posting photos of medallions from 12-step meetings and candid snapshots from her darkest days. “Today marks five years clean and sober from all drugs and alcohol,” she wrote, adding, “I get to show up for life today.”
In a candid post, Paris opened up about her struggles with addiction, revealing for the first time that she battled alcoholism and heroin use. Reflecting on her journey, she said, “I can’t believe I almost missed it all.”
Painful Parallels with Her Father
The world remembers a brave 11-year-old Paris addressing thousands at her father’s memorial service in 2009. In the years since Michael Jackson’s sudden death from a drug overdose, Paris has drawn connections between his struggles and her own. “I understand the pain my father went through,” she shared, adding that his reliance on painkillers mirrored her escape into substance abuse to cope with emotional turmoil.
“Losing him was devastating,” a source close to the Jackson family revealed. “Paris turned to drugs and alcohol to numb the pain.” Her turning point came when she realized she didn’t want to meet the same fate as her father, whose personal physician was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011.
Overcoming a Troubled Youth
Paris’ teenage years were fraught with emotional challenges. Educated at home until Michael’s passing, she struggled to adapt to private middle school. At 15, she attempted suicide by slashing her wrists and ingesting pills. “It was just self-hatred,” she later admitted, describing low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness.
In the years that followed, Paris endured untreated depression, self-harm, and substance abuse. She revealed in a 2020 interview that she also suffered sexual assault at 14, a secret she kept for years. These experiences led her to a residential therapy program in Utah, where she initially found healing but later described as traumatic, citing PTSD from the experience.
Finding Love and Stability
Despite trust issues, Paris found love with producer Justin Long, announcing their engagement in December. “She’s found her soulmate,” said a family insider, adding that Paris is looking forward to building a family of her own. Her brothers, Prince, 27, and Bigi, 22, are said to be proud of her progress and happy to see her thriving.
Paris has also embraced her LGBTQ+ identity, once joking, “I thought I’d end up marrying a chick since I’ve dated more women than men.” Now, with a renewed sense of purpose, she focuses on her music career and advocacy.
A New Chapter
Reflecting on her sobriety, Paris expressed gratitude for life’s simple joys. “It’s because I’m sober that I get to smile today,” she wrote. “I get to experience the joy of loving my pets, feel heartbreak, and trust again.”
Her resilience continues to inspire fans, proving that even in the face of immense challenges, a brighter future is always within reach.
Jaja has a degree in journalism and took classes in international law and business communication. Her career spans roles at prominent international media outlets, including International Business Times, Celebeat and Delightful Philippines. As a news editor, Jaja covered a wide range of beats, including legal, business, economy, cryptocurrency, personal finance, gaming, technology, and entertainment.