Michael Jackson´s Children´s Body Language During Oprah Interview
by
Dr. Lillian Grass
November 10, 2010
Michael Jackson’s Children’s Body Language During
Oprah Interview Show They Are Guarded, Protective, and Ambivalent
as They Continue to Respect Dad’s Privacy
The above photo of Michael Jackson’s eldest
children, Prince and Paris says it all. They were clearly not
comfortable being asked questions about their father by Oprah.
They knew how their late father valued not only his privacy
but theirs as well. That is why he made them wear veils when
they went out of the house. In fact Michael’s daughter
Paris addressed the fact that while the veils were uncomfortable,
she knew they were for her protection.
PRINCE IS NOT TOO HAPPY!
In the above photo, observe Prince standing up with crossed
arms as he looks on facing Oprah as his sister is interviewed.
His eye is clearly on Oprah as he leans back in a defensive
mode. He has a protective stance with both of his arms his arms
tightly interlocked crossing over his torso.
His protective stance is further indicated as he stands in the
background looking directly at Oprah with one foot out, pointed
in Oprah’s direction. It is though this protective older
brother is ready to step in if the questioning gets to be too
uncomfortable or too much for his younger sister. His other
foot protectively points in Paris’ direction as if to step
in in case she needs him.
GRANDPA JOE JACKSON LOOKS UNCHARACTERISTICALLY SUBMISSIVE
AROUND PRINCE
Joe Jackson, Michael’s father and Prince’s grandpa
knows Prince means business in this photo. Joe looks uncharacteristically
submissive around Prince. His head is down with his hands in
his pocket as he looks in Prince’s direction. We have rarely
seen such a photo of Joe in terms of his body language. In the
past, Joe’s posture and demeanor has usually had a super
confident cocky non-humbled undertone. But this photo was very
different.
The distinct physical distance between Joe and Prince show that
they are not close at all. Joe’s submissive stance reflects
this as well.
PRINCE’S AMBIVALENCE
When it was Prince’s turn to be interviewed by Oprah, his
eye contact with her was less than optimal as he consistently
looked away. When describing his favorite experience walking
with his dad on the beach in Bahrain eating snickers, he looked
up and away. While he wanted to be polite and answer Oprah’s
question, there was clearly a part of him that did not want
to share this special moment between he and his late dad with
the world.
As the person who spent the most time in his life with father
Michael, Prince knew deep down that Michael, who valued his
privacy with his children would not be pleased at this revelation.
His body language clearly reflected his ambivalence.
In the photo, it is clear that Prince is not happy and something
must have happened for him to get up from his chair after the
interview and leave the table and stand in the background. Perhaps
he had enough of what he considered Oprah’s invasive questioning
about his father. Perhaps it got to him. He definitely knew
Michael would not like this line of questioning about his private
life with his children. So it seems in my view that Prince finally
had enough.
Look at Prince’s crossed arms over his torso. It means
that he is closing off. If you look down at his sister sitting
in the photo as Prince looks on, she too has her arms crossed
over her torso in a protective mode.
PARIS’ AMBIVALENCE
She too knows that this discussion about Michael is inappropriate
based on how she was raised. She knows to the core of her soul
that discussing her father is a violation of what he was all
about- extreme privacy. Yet she wants to be cooperative and
compliant during the interview.
Paris’ BODY language reflects her ambivalence as well.
as well. Not only are her arms interlocked and crossed in a
protective mode like her brother, she also leans back in her
chair. It is in marked contrast to Oprah’s body language,
who leans forward in her attempt to engage Paris.
Paris does not engage Oprah in leaning forward , She is polite
verbal, articulate, pleasant and poised. But the spokeschild
of the family is clearly in control as she speaks measuredly
but lovingly of her father.
She opens her eyes widely and raises her eyebrows
as we see in the photo above This look of surprise reflects
what she is verbally revealed – a surprise to the world
that her daddy could make the best French toast n the world.
Oprah was surprised by this revelation as she and most of us
would think that Michael who was surrounded my maids and cooks
would not be the one to hole up in a kitchen making breakfast.
From what we have heard about Michael’s eating habits in
the past, no one would have associated Michael with food, much
less being involved in the preparation of it.
While it was personal information, it was information that was
benign enough that Michael would not have mind if it was revealed.
Paris clearly thought about this and played the interview game
of sharing just enough information to respect her father;s wishes
and his memory.
EVEN BLANKET IS PROTECTIVE
Even little 8 year old Blanket is protective during the interview
as you can see in the above photo. His knees are bent and in
front of him as they shield and protect him as he sits in his
chair. His one leg dropping down from the chair says that he
really does not want to be there. It says that he wants to leave.
His hands cover his mouth, indicating that he doesn’t want
to speak. Paris and Prince clearly have his back so to speak.
They are protective of him as well and pay a lot of attention
to him. Paris reaches out to him as we see in the photo with
her hand extended towards him. No doubt big sister Paris has
a hands on role with Blanket in helping to care for him. Her
extended hand is there to comfort him.
Paris’ extended cupped hand reflects tension and ambivalence
at the same time. It’s a closed hand that perhaps reflects
a subconscious anger that her little brother has to be there
and be subjected to this uncomfortable situation.
The gesture reflects that she knows Blanket clearly does not
want to be there, subjected to Oprah’s questioning . Interally,
she is angry and upset about it. It even reflects in Paris’
smile as she looks in Blanket’s direction. While her lips
are smiling, her eyes are reflecting the opposite. She is not
happy about being forced to be in this situation.
She knows deep down that her father would not be happy about
having his children, whom he went to all lengths to protect
in terms of their identity to now be so publicly exposed. While
she wants to comply, she is being very protective over Blanket,
her gestures and body language reflect her inner conflict.
MICHAEL’S LEGACY
Besides his beautiful music the best legacy that Michael left
behind was his beautiful children who continue to respect their
dad’s privacy. Their actions and body language showed it.
There is no doubt that Michael would be proud of them and how
they handled this very uncomfortable and conflicting situation
where they were forced to reveal personal information about
their lives with their famous and now deceased dad. They complied,
but continued to be guarded as Michael’s message which
he ingrained in them since birth was evident- “ watch
what you say and don’t say too much!”
There is no doubt that if Michael is up there is heaven, he
was looking down at his children and smiling proudly from year
to ear, He was proud that they were polite and cooperative,
yet set boundaries as they honored and tried to protect their
dad’s wishes for privacy as best as they could.
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