Photo Credit: Getty Images
On the 15th anniversary of Michael Jackson's passing, his eldest son, Michael "Prince" Jackson Jr., and other family members shared heartfelt tributes to the King of Pop. Prince, who was 12 when his father died on June 25, 2009, of acute propofol intoxication, posted a poignant message on Instagram. Over an image of Michael performing at the 1993 Super Bowl XXVII halftime show, Prince, now 27, wrote, "Miss you pops. The world felt better with you in it," and added the song "We Are The World" to his post.
Prince was not alone in his remembrance. Michael's older brother Jackie Jackson shared a black and white photo of himself with a young Michael, captioning it, "Hard to believe it's been 15 years without you. Miss you everyday." Tito Jackson also posted a tribute, sharing a black and white portrait of Michael with hashtags like "#15yearswithoutmichaeljackson" and "#MJ4ever."
The Jackson family's tributes come amid ongoing financial disputes regarding Michael's estate. Prince and his siblings, Paris, 26, and Bigi, 21, along with their grandmother, Katherine Jackson, have been unable to receive funds from Michael's estate due to an unresolved dispute with the IRS. The estate, accused of undervaluing its assets, owes $700 million in taxes and penalties. The recent sale of a portion of Jackson's Mijac catalog to Sony for $600 million has led the estate to seek reconsideration.
The Jackson family's reflections also coincide with the upcoming biopic, "Michael," slated for release on April 18, 2025. The film stars Jaafar Jackson, Michael's nephew, as the iconic artist. Prince expressed his excitement for the project, sharing on social media, "Special thanks to my cousin @jaafarjackson watching you perform and work your butt off is the closest I'll ever come to watching my dad in concert and it's been a dream come true! Proud of you cuz!"
Prince has previously spoken about how he keeps his father's memory alive, stating in an October 2022 interview with E! News, "I have photos of him and the uncles inside my house. I like to lead my life with love, which is what he taught me and I try to help at least one person a day and I feel like that is a way of continuing his legacy."
