Paris Jackson has revealed that she was secretly engaged while struggling with drug use, in a candid interview on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast. The 28-year-old singer, daughter of the late Michael Jackson, also discussed ending her engagement to musician Justin Long.
Jackson and Long, who were bandmates, separated last year after approximately three years together and a few months after his proposal. Jackson described the engagement as the second she had called off. "The first one. I don't know if you could count the first one, it was real to me, even though we were strung out on drugs, and the ring was one that he bought with my money without me knowing, it was still like, the love was so real for me in that first one," she stated.
Earlier this year, Jackson marked six years of sobriety. She has previously spoken about past struggles with heroin and alcohol, which she used to cope with depression and emotional trauma following her father's death. "If I have a hit of weed or a drink, I'm going to go back on heroin," she explained, noting that she realized she couldn't stop even with less potent substances. She described hitting a "breaking point" and her "bottom."
Reflecting on her engagement to Long, Jackson explained that while she had considered ending it before, she had held on in hopes that things would improve. She emphasized the importance of certainty in relationships and the need to be happy, stating that even if someone is a good person and wouldn't cheat, that isn't enough reason to stay if fundamental needs are not being met.
"Just because I've realised just because someone is a good person doesn't mean they're my person," Jackson said. "And I have to be happy. I realised that my non-negotiables are allowed to be non-negotiables."
Jackson mentioned that she lives in a city where loyalty is not always prevalent, but acknowledged knowing men who are devoted to their wives and children. She stated that after her failed engagement, taking time to be single allowed her to realize she did not want to overlook issues in future relationships. "I can be a little bit pickier," she commented. "The bar can be raised a bit because it's historically been very low."
