Michael Jackson's Daughter Paris Jackson Details Childhood at Neverland

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o010JZPfhbg

Paris Jackson is offering a rare glimpse into her childhood at Neverland Ranch, revealing that life there was very different from what many people might imagine.

During an appearance on the Aug. 12 episode of Call Her Daddy, the 28-year-old daughter of Michael Jackson clarified that she didn't actually spend her entire childhood at the sprawling California property.

“It was only the first few years of my life”

Paris said she lived at Neverland for the first seven years of her life, alongside her brothers Prince Jackson and Bigi Jackson, formerly known as Blanket.

“I didn't grow up there,” Paris explained. “It was only the first few years of my life that I was there.”

Although Neverland was famous for its amusement-park rides, zoo and other attractions, Paris said her daily routine was surprisingly ordinary.

School came first

Paris recalled being homeschooled at Neverland, explaining that she and her brothers would wake up and head to a dedicated classroom.

“I'd wake up and I'd go to school,” she said. “I'd wake up and we go to the room that was our classroom and we would go to school.”

So despite living on a property that looked like a child's ultimate fantasy, school was a major part of her routine.

The attractions weren't considered theirs

Paris also revealed that she and her brothers were taught that the amusement rides and other attractions on the property weren't there for their personal use.

She said it was made “very, very clear” that the attractions “did not belong to us.”

According to Paris, Neverland's attractions were intended primarily for underprivileged children and children with terminal illnesses who otherwise couldn't experience places such as Disneyland.

That distinction shaped how she and her brothers viewed the extraordinary property.

A very different picture of Neverland

Neverland became one of the most recognizable symbols associated with Michael Jackson. The ranch was designed as a private retreat and entertainment complex, complete with rides, animals and elaborate grounds.

Paris' recollections offer a more nuanced picture of what it was like for Michael's children to actually live there—less about constantly enjoying the attractions and more about school, family life and following the boundaries set for them.

Bottom line

Paris Jackson's memories challenge the idea that growing up at Neverland meant having unlimited access to a personal amusement park. For Paris and her brothers, school was part of their everyday routine, and they were taught that the ranch's attractions were intended for visiting children in need—not for them.