Exclusive: Michael Jackson's Kids Want Future in Showbiz
King of Pop's eldest children are no longer homeschooled.
Feb. 25, 2011 — -- Michael Jackson's older children seem set to continue in their late father's footsteps as entertainers, but they have their sights set on movies or acting.
"Good Morning America" anchor Robin Roberts talked exclusively with Katherine Jackson, the children's grandmother, and with the children themselves: Prince Michael, 14, Paris, 12, and Blanket, 9.
The children opened up about their lives and plans for the future. "I'm looking at a couple of opportunities in show business. Mostly producing," Prince Michael told Roberts in the interview that aired today on "GMA." He added that his interest in movie production was fostered by his famous father.
Jackson's mother, Katherine, told Roberts that her son took film-making classes with Prince. "We had a teacher from UCLA come to our house and we would do film classes there," Prince said. And when we were in Ireland, we would film a couple of movies with him, too."
Kids Want Future in Entertainment
Paris wants to be an actress. "I'm thinking about auditioning for a play next week," she said.
The children are flexing their creative muscle at home. "Paris dresses up like a little waitress or something, and they shoot their little movies," their grandmother said.
Katherine Jackson said her grandchildren's interest comforts her, because they are doing what their father would have wanted.
The pop legend died June 25, 2009 after being administered a lethal dose of propofol, a powerful intravenous sedative. His personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of Jackson. The doctor has been ordered to stand trial for his alleged role in his patient's death. His attorneys have said he did nothing wrong.
Since the pop star died, Katherine has been raising his children. Despite the time that has passed, she still keenly feels the loss of her son. "There's not an hour of (the) day that doesn't go by that I don't think about my son. It's just that hard," she said.
The difficulties he faced during his life -- including allegations that he sexually molested children -- still weigh heavily on Katherine's mind. Her son only wanted to help children, never harm them, she said.
Mom: 'Michael Had A Very Good Heart'
"Michael had a very good heart," Katherine Jackson said. "People misunderstood him. All the lies that were told and the way he suffered from what these people had done to him, these wicked people. I get upset when I think about it. But … through all of that, he still kept his composure and he still … he wasn't angry inside. But he still tried to help children."
Now his children are taking over, following in their father's footsteps and giving to those in need. The children recently attended a charitable event on behalf of Heal the World Foundation. Prince Michael serves as a board member.
He said he and his siblings want to "continue what our dad was doing, like, helping children from across the world. And animals who couldn't speak up for themselves."
"Ditto," Paris added.
Their father was a controversial figure, and the controversy didn't end with the singer's death. Katherine Jackson is dealing with a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by her son's estate against her business partner, Howard Mann. Mann runs a Web site that features Michael Jackson's music, video and a book that Katherine wrote about her late son's life.
Mann and the charity Heal the World are both in litigation with the estate. The estate has obtained a court order prohibiting the foundation from using Michael Jackson's name, but Katherine and other family members still support it.
"I think it's greed, fundamentally," Mann told ABC News. "I think that the notion … that Mrs. Jackson is not able to use her son's name or the Heal the World foundation, is stopped by the courts from using Michael's name, is utterly ridiculous to me. I don't understand whose agenda this services, outside of maybe a group of lawyers."
In a statement to "Good Morning America," Jackson's estate said they believe Mann is making these allegations for his own financial gain.
"The current Heal the World Foundation has no relation to Michael Jackson's charity that touched so many lives before becoming inactive several years before Michael's death...The Estate does not believe Michael's children should be used to exploit a foundation that a federal judge found was not associated with Michael Jackson."
No Longer Homeschooled
The children may remain committed to fulfilling their father's legacy, but they're also focused on living their lives as normally as they can. "This is the first time they ever had regular schooling. They always had homeschooling (before)," Jackson said of Paris and Prince. Blanket is still homeschooled.
"They seem to be adjusting to it well. They love it. I don't even have to make them get up, they just get up and get ready for school."
Prince Michael's favorite subjects? "Gym and lunch," he said jokingly. He also plays basketball, and recently won a season-ending game. "He's a beast!" Paris said of her brother's skills on the basketball court.