Exploring Paris Jackson’s Relationship with Her Mother, Debbie Rowe
Paris Jackson gradually developed a relationship with her mother, Debbie Rowe, in the years following her father Michael Jackson’s passing.
The King of Pop wed Rowe in November 1996, later welcoming their son Prince and daughter Paris. Following their divorce in 1999, Rowe relinquished her parental rights.
Michael passed away in June 2009 at the age of 50, appointing his mother Katherine Jackson as the guardian of his three children. (Michael was also the father of son Bigi, whom he had via surrogate.)
While Rowe initially intended to pursue custody, she ultimately reached an agreement with the Jackson family without a legal battle. Katherine became the guardian of Prince, Paris, and Bigi, while Rowe was granted visitation rights to see her two children.
“The sole consideration between the parties was the best interests of the children,” Rowe’s attorney Eric George remarked in a statement at that time.
Continue reading for more on Paris’ relationship with Rowe:
Paris Jackson Was 15 When She First Met Debbie Rowe
Paris was primarily raised by her father and began questioning her mother’s identity around the age of 10.
“I remember asking about it when I was about 10 or 11, and the answers I received were satisfactory,” said Paris on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast in August 2026. “I asked, ‘What’s her name?’ and was told her name. I thought, ‘Okay, cool,’ and moved on.”
Paris didn’t meet Rowe until several years later.
“We connected when I was about 15 and started getting closer towards the end of my teenage years,” Paris recalled on the podcast. “I remember coming downstairs and finding her in the living room with my grandma. I greeted her with, ‘Hey, mom,’ and she responded, ‘Hi.’ We chatted for a bit before heading out for the day together.”
The musician added, “She’s a [Sagittarius], and I’m an Aries, so we both have that fiery nature. We are quite alike.”
Paris Jackson Says the Bond Has ‘Gotten More Refined’
During her conversation with podcast host Alex Cooper in August 2026, Paris credited a shift in her perspective as integral to strengthening the mother-daughter bond.
“What’s really interesting about my journey, in general, is understanding how expectations can complicate things,” she shared. “If I enter a relationship with expectations, it can lead to disappointment, frustration, or resentment.”
She continued, “If I approach something without expectations, it creates space for something genuine to blossom. I would say our relationship has become more refined [over the years].”
Paris Jackson Supported Debbie Rowe During Her Breast Cancer Battle
Rowe, a former nurse who met Michael while working at his dermatologist’s office, received a breast cancer diagnosis in July 2016. Although Rowe and Paris had a somewhat distant relationship at the time, the diagnosis brought them closer together.
“They have kept in touch but weren’t as close,” a source revealed to Us at that time, noting that Paris, then 18, sent a text saying, “I love you.”
By October 2016, Paris shared a hospital-room photo with her mother on Instagram, writing, “I’m a fighter because she’s a fighter. Love you, mom.”
Rowe completed her chemotherapy in January 2017, a milestone that Paris celebrated on Instagram.
“My badass mom, kicking butt [and] taking names. Isn’t she f***in fabulous????” Paris captioned a photo of Rowe holding a “Chemo Done” sign.
Paris Jackson Shares Rare Reunion Photos With Debbie Rowe
Paris also posted rare photos from a low-key reunion with Rowe in February 2026. In one image, Paris wore a patterned jacket and a teal-and-tan baseball cap layered with necklaces, while Rowe smiled in a cream-colored long-sleeve shirt. Another picture captured Rowe in a plaid flannel, beaming alongside her daughter in a home setting.
Paris captioned the snapshot “lately” accompanied by a red heart emoji.
This story was created with the assistance of AI tools and edited by journalists.
