Prince Jackson Recalls Being ‘Terrified’ After Father Michael Claimed ‘Thriller’ Was Real
LOS ANGELES — Growing up at the Neverland Ranch often felt like living in a personal Disneyland, but for Prince Jackson, one childhood memory remains decidedly more "chilling" than magical.
During a recent appearance on Australia’s Sunrise program, the 29-year-old producer opened up about the time he and his siblings first viewed the iconic "Thriller" music video.
He admitted they were "terrified" by the 1982 masterpiece, which famously features the King of Pop transforming into a werewolf and leading a troupe of dancing zombies.
A Playful Deception
According to Prince, his father didn't do much to ease their fears. In fact, he leaned into the horror for the sake of a prank.
"He told us that it was real," Prince shared during the interview. "Like it wasn't special effects or anything like that".
Prince attributed the scare to his father’s "childlike nature," noting that the global superstar was a constant prankster who loved "making up stories" and playing with his children at their own level.
Life at Neverland
Reflecting on his upbringing, Prince acknowledged that his "normal" was far from the average experience. His childhood was set against a surreal backdrop where giraffes and elephants roamed the yard of their famous estate. Despite the eccentricities and the intense security that comes with being a Jackson, he described the environment as "magical" and grounded in family time, such as reading books and playing board games.
Carrying on the Legacy
Prince, who served as a producer on the new biopic Michael, expressed a deep desire to mirror his father’s parenting style if he has children of his own one day.
He credited Michael with making a massive effort to mitigate the isolation of fame by keeping Prince close to his more than 40 cousins.
The interview comes as the Jackson family legacy returns to the spotlight with the release of Michael. The biographical film, which premiered in Los Angeles on April 20, stars Prince’s cousin Jaafar Jackson. The movie currently focuses on the singer’s life and career through 1988.
