Paris Jackson has responded after her appearance on the cover of Singapore Harper’s Bazaar led to accusations of being a “hypocrite”.
The 20-year-old singer, model, actress, activist and daughter of Michael Jackson, who is openly bisexual, was initially criticised by a writer from Gay Star News who questioned her decision to star on the cover when same-sex marriage/sex is outlawed in Singapore.
At present, homosexuality in Singapore is an offence that is punishable with ‘up to two years in prison’.
In an editorial for GayStarNews, Jamie Tabberer wrote: “Put simply, I don’t believe LGBTI allies or LGBTIs should be granting exclusives to publications in such countries.
i didn’t know, i am sorry. i was grateful for the opportunity, but i’ll delete the post now. i don’t want to be hypocritical or hurt anyone, and my support for my fellow LGBTQ+ community comes first before my love for fashion and gratitude for this opportunity. again, i’m sorry. https://t.co/ntokVfCZZS
— PK (@ParisJackson) August 19, 2018
i would like to add though that someone that is openly apart of the community being on the cover in a country against the community, should be celebrated. isn’t that a step forward? again, i am deeply sorry. i didn’t mean to be hypocritical or hurt anyone.
— PK (@ParisJackson) August 19, 2018
“I’m sure Paris couldn’t give a damn what I think. But for the record, I’m not trying to trash her. I just want to know if she considers consenting to this cover a mistake. If she doesn’t, I respect her right to that opinion. But in future, instead of advocating on my behalf, I’d rather she stuck with plants.”
Now, Jackson has responded for the first time – and insisted that she didn’t mean to cause offence.
“I didn’t know, I am sorry. I was grateful for the opportunity, but I’ll delete the post now”, she wrote on Twitter.
Paris Jackson for Harper's Bazaar Spain, September 2018 issue. Photographed by Mario Sorrenti. pic.twitter.com/jf6x9XV36u
— HCM (@hoodcouturemag) August 16, 2018
also that article is ridiculously mean.
— PK (@ParisJackson) August 19, 2018
“I don’t want to be hypocritical or hurt anyone, and my support for my fellow LGBTQ+ community comes first before my love for fashion and gratitude for this opportunity. Again, I’m sorry.”
But she also offered a firm defence – describing the article as “ridiculously mean” and arguing that her presence on the cover of a magazine in a country with restrictive LGBT rights should be celebrated.
“I would like to add though that someone that is openly apart of the community being on the cover in a country against the community, should be celebrated,” she continued. “Isn’t that a step forward? again, I am deeply sorry. I didn’t mean to be hypocritical or hurt anyone”, she explained.
Earlier this year, Jackson also succeeded in her efforts to secure a restraining order against an alleged stalker.