Michael Jackson Was 'Kind Enough' to Dangle Baby Son over a Balcony to Show Fans — He Later Regretted It

Michael Jackson became a father for the third time in 2002. However, nobody knew who the mother was before he revealed that his son was born via surrogacy.

Nine months after birth, a worrying incident happened in Germany. Michael Jackson decided to show his son to his fans, but the press highly criticized the gesture.

Initially, the comments by the press made Michael Jackson angry, but he later admitted that he had made a terrible mistake. When he died, his son was only seven.

By 2000 Michael Jackson was already a father of two children, a son, Prince Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., born on February 13, 1997, and his only daughter, Paris, born on April 3, 1998.

However, in 2002, it became known that Michael had fathered one more child. He welcomed his third child and second son on February 21, 2002.

MOTHER OF THIRD CHILD WAS NEVER NAMED

His first two children were born to his musician and nurse ex-wife Debbie Rowe. However, the identity of the mother of his third child was a secret.

Michael would later say that though his children with his ex-wife were natural conceptions, he conceived his third child via artificial insemination and surrogacy.

He revealed that he and the surrogate did not know each other, but he didn't care either. He said,

"I didn't care what race she was as long as she was healthy and her vision was good. And her intellect - I wanted to know how intelligent she is."

His ex-wife also confirmed that she was not the baby boy's mother, and even if Michael knew who the mother was, he preferred to hide the fact.

BABY BOY NAMED BLANKET

Michael named his third child Prince Michael Jackson II. The 'King of Pop' had revealed that he wanted more children, and if he had boys, they would all bear Prince Michael (III, IV, etc.).

However, Michael also nicknamed his son 'Blanket', and the boy was known mainly by this nickname. Michael often used this word with his family and employees. For Michael, using the word 'blanket' was like a blessing. He said,

"It's a way of showing love and caring."

MICHAEL JACKSON COULD PUT HIS SON 'AT POTENTIAL RISK'

Six months after Blanket was born, nobody knew about his existence. When his fans found out, they wanted to see the baby and know who the child's mother was.

However, in November 2002, when Michael was in Germany for an awards ceremony, his fans gathered around his hotel, asking him to show them the baby.

Michael showed up on his balcony to greet his fans, and after greeting them, he raised Blanket over the railing and dangled him for a few seconds.

He cared for his son with one hand while the baby's legs leaned on the balcony railing. Michael then returned to his hotel room with Blanket's head covered.

While some fans were happy to see his newborn, others worldwide reacted negatively to this dangling as they said it could be dangerous for the baby.

One spokesperson from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children advised people "not to put babies or children at potential risk by dangling them over a balcony."

While some did not believe it was a real baby or that he had a baby, the president and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America condemned the dangling.

He said, "It is a painful reminder that even the most well-intentioned among us sometimes act in ways that put children in danger of being abused or neglected."

ELIZABETH TAYLOR SUPPORTED MICHAEL WITH A LETTER

When the press condemned Michael for his actions, he was initially angry over their reactions. Michael said that he had the baby firmly in his hand, and the media were blowing things out of proportion. He said,

"We were waving to thousands of fans below, and they were chanting to see my child, and I was kind enough to let them see."

Michael reiterated his love for children and said he would never put them in harm's way. He further stated that he would not have put a scarf over the baby's face if he had wanted to throw the baby over the balcony.

According to some German newspapers, the scarf over the baby's face was to protect the child from being kidnapped. However, Michael later admitted that he had no excuses for the incident and made a terrible mistake. He said,

"I got caught up in the excitement of the moment. I would never intentionally endanger the lives of my children."

Michael was embarrassed and distraught by the media coverage as the press questioned his suitability for fatherhood and emotional stability. The following month, Michael got a letter from Elizabeth Taylor supporting him.

Her support for him lifted his spirits as she told him not to let the public get him down. She also said that many people, including his kid, loved him. Taylor also reaffirmed her love and understanding for him. She said,

"Don't hide. You haven't done anything to be ashamed of. Be proud of how you bringing up your children."

Taylor further told him that she was proud of him and his parenting style. She revealed that she understood him even when others did not, and he should pay no mind to them.

BLANKET JACKSON'S LIFE AFTER THE DEATH OF HIS FATHER

On June 25, 2009, Michael suffered from a cardiac arrest, and attempts by the physicians to resuscitate him for more than an hour failed. At the time of his death, Blanket was only seven years old.

While the world mourned a star, Michael's children mourned him more. A family friend revealed that Blanket, at 15, found it harder to adjust. The friend said, "he acted very lost and extremely upset."

In 2015, Blanket changed his nickname to Bigi after suffering at the hands of bullies for years. In 2020, Bigi, who likes his privacy and tries to stay out of the spotlight, bought a house for $2.62 million.

The 6,382-square-foot property boasted six bedrooms, seven-and-a-half bathrooms, a bar, a private brick pool, a spa in the backyard, an outdoor space featuring a barbecue center, covered patio, and enormous grass lawn.