Michael Jackson’s son Prince has admitted that he felt confused when fans would faint meeting his father as he spoke in a rare interview on Thursday.
The 24-year-old – whose real name is Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr. but goes by the names Mike or Prince – said he found it strange seeing people react to his presence at a concert in the Middle East.
The philanthropist said that it was a ‘single a-ha moment’ when he knew his father was incredibly famous but that there were ‘little seeds growing up and getting older’ too.
Famous: Michael Jackson’s son Prince has admitted that he felt confused when fans would faint meeting his father as he spoke in a rare interview on Thursday
Speaking to Fox Soul he said: ‘I saw that people would follow us around. People would just want to reach out and touch my dad.
‘But it was really when I was around 10 or 11, when I was watching a video of my father performing…he was performing outside, and you see this sea of people.
‘There were people fainting in the audience, and I asked my dad, ‘Why are people fainting? I see you every day and I don’t faint.
‘That had that resonation that people really loved my father.’
Honest: The 24-year-old – whose real name is Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr. but goes by the names Mike or Prince – said he found it strange seeing people react to his presence at a concert in the Middle East
Prince is the oldest of Michael’s three children and has a younger sister Paris, 22, and younger brother Blanket, 19.
Michael died in 2009 at the age of 50, following an overdose of the anaesthetic propofol. Prince was 12 years old at the time.
In the interview when asked what lessons his father taught him that he still takes into account now he said his attitude toward learning and knowledge.
He explained: ‘You know, there are so many nuggets there that are just so close to my heart that I feel like they’re applicable at all times.
Family: Prince (right) is the oldest of Michael’s three children and has a younger sister Paris, 22, (middle) and younger brother Blanket, 19 (left). Picture together in 2012
‘But the one that is my guiding principle is that you never stop learning. I graduated, and that doesn’t mean that I stopped learning.
‘And my father also would say something along the lines of, ‘The minute that you stop learning is the minute that you’re going to start dying’.’
Prince gradated from Loyola Marymount University with a business degree in 2019 and his younger brother attended the ceremony.
Last September Prince said in an interview on This Morning that he’s proud to carry his late father’s name.
Despite losing his father 11 years ago, Prince, admitted that he still misses him greatly, but claimed he still hears his father’s voice.
On having one of the most famous fathers in the world, Prince agreed that there are expectations when people meet him.
He said: ‘I am very proud to share the same name as my father, but sharing such a powerful name you are correct, there is…
‘I don’t want to say pressure, but there is this legacy that my father worked very hard to build and to maintain and I feel that it’s my position really in my life and everything that I’ve been given; I just want to expand that legacy.’
Good memories: Paris Jackson is pictured at one of Prince’s old birthday parties with Michael (left)
He added: ‘I feel that the older I get the more I get to unpack the wisdom that he left and all the experiences that he imparted on us.
‘And when I see them through a more mature perspective, I’m just extremely grateful to have the life experiences with him that I did and the knowledge that he imparted on me.
‘Every year I’m more appreciative of that and I miss him ever greater because that’s… that’s my father.’
Memories: Prince claimed last year that he still hears his late father’s voice guiding him to do better 11 years after his death