They’re not adults or celebrities in their own right, but they’re learning how to grow up and make mistakes in the public eye, and I do not envy them. Sure it must be nice to have VIP treatment, designer clothes, money, vacations, and access to movies and shows before the general public. But the downsides? Every ugly early moment caught on camera by paparazzi, people deciding who you are before you really know yourself, and trying to learn how to lead a normal life when everything about your life is superstar surreal. No thanks!
Suri Cruise has become a tabloid favorite, and why not? She seems to be playing dress up every day of her life, and now her parents’ split has catapulted her into new detailed scrutiny. In a perfect world, both parents are out to protect her from the public eye. But even if her parents are protective, the tabloids have jumped in and made her front page news.
Suri wants to be with daddy! Mommy refuses to buy Suri a puppy! This girl is going to learn to hire her own team of publicists and play both sides to get what she wants before she’s a teen. If she hasn’t already. But her mother has reportedly enrolled her in Catholic school. Maybe the nuns will set her straight.
My favorite little celebrity cherub is Shiloh Jolie Pitt. That kid has her own style and what seems to be a whole bunch of “I don’t care who you are, I gotta be me” attitude. Let’s hope she can hang on to that. But it won’t be easy since the tabloids are already questioning her choices. 
The biggest tabloid fodder celebrity kids this week seem to be the Jackson kids. No surprise that you have some wild news coming from a family with children being raised by former child stars and an aging grandmother. After Michael Jackson’s death, Katharine (Michael’s mother) took custody of Michael’s kids, Prince, Paris, and Blanket. But then Katharine went missing, and the grandkids started tweeting theories that she had been kidnapped by her own children, who are contesting Michael’s will (which gives all the money to the kids and their guardian).Turns out Katharine was seeking rest and relaxation in Arizona, where she may or may not have been held against her will.
To make matters more tabloid-friendly, Janet Jackson was taped trying to wrench a phone from Paris Jackson. Slapfest ensued.
The two popular tabloid theories seem to be 1. That MJ’s siblings are money-grubbing wretches trying to wrestle their brother’s fortune away from his kids, or 2. that those children of MJ are major manipulative brats, or 3. The estate executors are up to no good. In the meantime, a cousin has been given temporary custody of the Jackson minor children. My one question is, who flies off to Arizona leaving minor children behind without a word? Shouldn’t she have just said, “Hey kids, Grandma’s going to a spa?”
Maybe I’m just not superstar enough to understand. But there’s a handy Jackson family meltdown guide on Jezebel.
Who is your favorite celebrity kid? Do you refuse to follow gossip on celebrity kids? Do you think Katharine Jackson was kidnapped, or just needed a break? Does Suri Cruise stand a chance at finding any normalcy?
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Someone just turned me on to Suri’s Burn Book, a humor site that is Suri’s POV on other celeb kids.
Oh wow, that sounds hilarious. And wrong, so wrong. Hilarious.
Hi Sherri, I read you’re tweet about celeb kids. I’m friends with Polly Segal, George’s daughter and I know Alegra Curtis, Tony’s daughter. After the stars divorce the mom’s the kids live an entirly different lifestyle. We all know just because someone’s wealthy dosen’t mean their generous. By the way if you’re both still in California I’d be happy to show you the coolest places in the valley. Get it cool and the Valley polar opposites, ha ha …
So great to see you here at the blog again! Missed you.
Interesting insights on celebrity kids. I’m glad your friends have some privacy. I’m not in California, sadly, but Julia London is there.
Also adorable, Alyson Hannigan and Alexis Denisof (Willow and Wesley from Buffy)’s little girls. And Charlotte, Sarah Michelle Gellar’s daughter with Freddy Prinze Jr. And they’re expecting again, too.
I don’t follow pop stars, celebrities, etc unless it’s right in front of my face. Suri Cruise certainly has been recently. She’s a beatiful little girl and it looks like she has two very loving parents who are thinking of her welfare (as evidenced by their quick divorce so as not to create a media frenzy around it.) Good for Tom and Katie!
Thanks for stopping by, Ashlyn. I agree that her parents tried to avoid that media frenzy, but unfortunately the tabloids seem determined to follow her for a while. Maybe once the divorce buzz dies down, they will give her some peace. She is cute, though. And I want that puppy, too.
I don’t follow celebrity children for the most part, although at the moment it’s hard to escape Suri. And I didn’t even know about Katherine Jackson. But I’m laying money on “I’ve had enough…I’m shipping out of here for a little R&R” I mean wow what a merry-go-round to be on. Not that she hasn’t been on it for years already, but she seems to have managed to keep a pretty low profile.
Suri seems to be everywhere, but apparently living in Manhattan now. You will have to let us know if you bump into her.
From what I was reading, the Jackson G’ma was suffering from exhaustion and was conned into staying with her daughter for the break and was told there were no outside phone lines to keep in contact. I think it is all horrible business especially when it came out the true motive is potentially MJ’s siblings upset they are not in for a cut of his estate which is now in the profit and out of the red.
Personally I find it horrifying that the innocent children of celebrities have their personal heartbreaks and other aspects of their lives splashed out as headline news.
I love how the King’s (Elvis), his daughter has kept for the most part out of the lime light. She had a moment of true bizarre craziness when she married MJ (why? just why?) but from there has kept the doors shut on hers and her kids lives.
Poor Suri. She will forever be hounded now because of the Scientology connection.
Lisa Marie has some new music out. She has been making the talk show rounds. But she does seem to stay out of the press and maintain privacy when she wants it. Her daughter is supposedly engaged to actor Alex Pettyfer. I’ve always liked Lisa Marie, because she is my age and her daughter is just a year older than my son (which is slightly scary- we’re getting old if they are old enough to get married!)
I wonder what Papa Joe Jackson is up to? He is never mentioned but you think he would be with his wife? Odd.
Interesting blog, Sherri! Some celeb parents seem to do a good job of keeping their kids’ lives normal and being hands-on. Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck for example. But of course, those two don’t seem to court media attention like some other celebrities (Demi Moore for instance).
I read a story recently (in a tabloid, so who knows if it’s true?) about how Angelina Jolie had banned Rhianna’s music ffrom the house because her sons were running around and laughing while singing the lyrics which contained adult content and filthy words. According to the story, Angelina was horrified and didn’t know the song contained such lyrics and when she realized it, she put the kabosh on the music. So, this made me curious and I Googled the lyrics to the song (aside from her Umbrella song, I’m not familiar with Rhianna’s music). And all I can is…wow. THAT’S a hit song? The lyrics (what there was of them) sounded as if they’d been written by a foul-mouthed, dirty-minded third grader. THIS is what kids are listening to? THIS has made Rhianna (as well as other singers–it’s not her) a multi-millionaire? It’s very disheartening. And disturbing.
If you’re interested, the song is Birthday Cake. Read the lyrics at your own risk. If the story is true, I applaud Angelina for banning it.
Rhianna, Emminen (spelling) and quite a few others are banned in my house. HA! But then I did take my then 12 year old to see Rob Zombie and she knew every lyric to every song including ‘Pussy Liquor.’
I guess I am a bad mom after all!!!!
Ti, that’s one of things that makes special mother-daughter memories? Hahaha. I don’t think you’ve done any damage.
I had to look up those lyrics, wow. I’m not really a Rihanna fan, so had no idea. The Garner Affleck kids do seem very low key. I haven’t seen a picture of their baby boy. Actually, there are a lot of celebrity kids you never see, so it is possible to keep them out of the spotlight, I suppose.
Sherri like you I have an awesome kid!