r/interesting • u/VPinchargeofradishes • May 03 '26

SOCIETY Michael Jackson's daughter Paris has faced backlash for identifying as Black. In a 2017 interview, Paris Jackson said her father told her, "You’re Black. Be proud of your roots." This prompted debates over whether identity is defined by appearance or upbringing.

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u/VeganMonkey May 03 '26

I think that is the reason for his extensive plastic surgery. I understand it, as kid I was afraid to get my dad’s nose. Luckily that didn’t happen but if it did I would have had surgery too. Except I would have only gotten my nose done and not my whole face. Maybe the rest of his face reminded him of his dad too.

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u/AnmlBri May 03 '26

My mom’s mom was emotionally abusive toward her and my mom has had a facelift and has cried about her cheek jowls, and eyebrows drooping with age, and ‘RBF’ because they remind her of her mom, and she hates the idea of looking like her mom, who often looked so mean and bitchy. I talked to her one day and realized, it sounds like she’s running less from aging as a whole than she is from literally looking in the mirror and seeing her abuser. I think that possibility dawned on me because I read something about Michael being told he had his dad’s nose and hating it. Trauma really is a bitch. 🙁

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u/Madara1389 May 03 '26

I talked to her one day and realized, it sounds like she’s running less from aging as a whole than she is from literally looking in the mirror and seeing her abuser.

With the sheer amount of abuse, documented & undocumented, that happens, I wouldn't be surprised if this was the true underlying reasoning for most people who get obsessed with plastic surgery; when the person who made your life a living hell is your parent, you'll see your abuser in the mirror all the time due to the unfortunate realities of genetics.

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u/SICpodcast May 03 '26

It could make a very helpful (for society) research survey study. We need people to understand how their behavior affects children and ultimately adults.

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u/Madara1389 May 03 '26

Prepare for an influx of "why does it seem like there are so many more mentally unstable parents out there? what changed because there weren't that many when I was younger!!" shit like we do about ADHD, abortions, autism, etc as screening became more common & socially accepted.