Michael Jackson had three children, but there are none quite as famous (or perhaps infamous) as his son, Prince Jackson II (better known by his nickname, Blanket). That’s not the kid’s fault, of course…it’s just that some of us will never forget when Jackson held his wriggling baby over a 60-foot balcony shortly after he was born. We all thought the most famous man in the world was about to kill (accidentally or otherwise) his own kid!
However, Blanket spent the years after that shaping up into an independent young man with an identity of his own. After Michael Jackson passed away, Blanket made some major changes, and we’re a little shocked at some of them.
What changes are we talking about? Keep reading to find out!
Giving himself a brand-new name
Let’s face it: “Blanket” is a pretty unusual nickname. However, it was one that Michael Jackson was fond of. Therefore, that’s how his youngest son presented himself to the world, but it didn’t take that long for him to realize he’d need to make a change.
At school, the young boy was frequently bullied thanks to his unconventional nickname. After a while, he decided that he’d stop going by both Blanket and his birth name, Prince Jackson II. Instead, he had his name legally changed to Bigi Jackson, a “big” change for a young man coming into a better sense of who he is.
A close relationship with his siblings
Celebrity children often lead unconventional lives, especially if they still have to grow up after losing a parent. Because of Michael Jackson’s shocking death, you might not expect Blanket Jackson to have a great relationship with his siblings. Fortunately, they have always been very tight and remain that way to this day.
They grieved together after their father died, and it was fortunate that Blanket, both the youngest and hardest hit by his father’s passing, had such a support system. Years later, he and his brother, Prince Jackson I, tried to start a YouTube movie review channel, though it only lasted for one video (a review of Avengers: Endgame). Later, he even celebrated his 18th birthday by hanging out with Prince and their sister, Paris.
Is it too soon to label this trio The Jackson Three?
He’s a climate activist
Given how the photo of him dangling over a balcony went viral right after he was born, Blanket Jackson has a good reason to avoid appearing in the media. When he does pop up, it’s usually because he considers something very important. In fact, that’s how we found out how much he cares about the climate!
Back in 2021, he gave a tour of his famous dad’s house to Good Morning America. This was mostly about honoring Michael Jackson, of course, but Blanket used the opportunity to speak about the importance of fighting against climate change. “I do think it’s important that we all know about it,” he said, “and I think we have some work to do, but our generation knows how important it is.”
Buying a famous mansion
One Blanket Jackson turned 18, he received some of his inheritance money. It didn’t take him long to spend it in a big way: by buying himself a mansion. Not just any mansion…this is the place the Kardashians once lived!
This luxury home is a cool 6,382-square-foot and has six bedrooms and seven and a half bathrooms. When Blanket isn’t chilling out in the swimming pool, he can always spend some time with his famous neighbors. Both Dr. Dre and John Travolta live in the same gated community!
A surprise tribute to his famous father
Obviously, Blanket Jackson and his big brother Prince have maintained a close relationship over the years. We’re not just saying that because they tried to start a YouTube channel…this dynamic duo also jetted off to Las Vegas to celebrate what would have been their dad’s 65th anniversary in style!
The two received a tour of the Mandalay Bay resort which was hosting the Cirque du Soleil show Michael Jackson ONE. This included getting to see the entire floor that is themed like Michael Jackson’s song “Billie Jean.” They also took in the show, with Prince later admitting he now watches it on every trip to Vegas.
Taking grandma to court
Blanket might have a great relationship with his siblings, but his relationship with his grandmother may now be in jeopardy. As usual, the family squabble is all about money, but you might be surprised at the real reason Blanket ended up taking grandma to court!
Facing a legal dispute over receiving income from Michael Jackson’s estate, these two initially teamed up to squash some sort of unspecified deal (rumors claim it was the sale of the rights to Michael Jackson’s music for a whopping $600 million). Once the judge ruled against them, grandmother Katherine Jackson wanted to appeal. Now, Blanket is opposing her because the appeal will cost half a million dollars and he suspects they will simply get ruled against once more.