An attitude of gratitude.
Paris Jackson has revealed she is a recovering alcoholic and heroin addict and is five years sober.
The daughter of Michael Jackson, 26, shared the news in an unflinching Instagram post on Tuesday that detailed her struggles with addiction and underscored her gratitude for her sobriety.
Alongside a video showing the highs and lows of her sober journey, Jackson wrote, “hi, i’m pk and i’m an alcoholic and a heroin addict.”
“[T]oday marks 5 years clean & sober from all drugs and alcohol,” she continued. “[T]o say that i’m thankful would be a poor euphemism.”
“[G]ratitude hardly scratches the surface. it’s because i’m sober that i get to smile today. i get to make music. i get to experience the joy of loving my dogs and cat. i get to feel heartbreak in all it’s glory. i get to grieve. i get to laugh. i get to dance. i get to trust.”
“[I] feel the sun on my skin and it’s warm,” the star added. “[I]’ve found that life keeps happening regardless of whether i’m sober or not, but today i get to show up for it.”
Introducing the clip, she said, “here’s a little snapshot of what has been possible because of my sobriety, and my god i can’t believe i almost missed it all.”
At the beginning of the video, Jackson is seen imbibing copious amounts of alcohol, smoking, partying and crying.
The singer‘s dark days transition to memories from happier times when she dances with friends, performs on stage, meets a baby bat, walks the red carpet at a Christian Louboutin soirée during Paris Fashion Week in 2023, goes rock climbing, along with clips of her and her fiancé, music producer Justin Long.
Jackson also included photos of her many sobriety chips in the video that commemorated her one-day, five-month, six-month, nine-month, 11-month, 18-month, 1-year, two-year, three-year, four-year and five-year sobriety anniversaries.
She ended the video with a message of thanks to those who have helped her battle addiction: “to those that helped me on this journey, if only for just the beginning, middle, or the whole time so far, you know who you are and i owe you my life. thank you. 5 years.”
“THANK GOD,” she concluded.
Courteney Cox, Madonna, Demi Lovato, Cara Delevingne and Paris Hilton were among the many who liked the post.
“So proud of you sis,” Hilton commented.
Jackson has talked about her addictions in the past; however, she never specified that she used heroin. In 2017, the heavily-tattooed model told Rolling Stone that some of her ink concealed track marks and scars from self-harm.
The singer also shared that she had attempted suicide “multiple times” before going to a therapeutic school in Utah.
“It was just self-hatred, low self-esteem, thinking that I couldn’t do anything right, not thinking I was worthy of living anymore,” Jackson said.
“I was crazy. I was actually crazy. I was going through a lot of, like teen, angst. And I was also dealing with my depression and my anxiety without any help.”
In 2019, amid reports she had checked into a treatment facility to help with her emotional health, Jackson said, “The media is exaggerating per usual.”
“Yes i’ve taken a break from work and social media and my phone because it can be too much sometimes, and everyone deserves a break,” she wrote on Instagram, adding, “but i am happy and healthy and feeling better than ever!”
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
