The 15-year-old daughter of Michael Jackson is physically fine after being taken to a hospital early Wednesday, an attorney for Jackson's mother said.
Perry Sanders Jr. wrote in a statement to The Associated Press that Paris Jackson is getting appropriate medical attention and the family is seeking privacy.
“Being a sensitive 15 year old is difficult no matter who you are,” he wrote. “It is especially difficult when you lose the person closest to you. Paris is physically fine and is getting appropriate medical attention. Please respect her privacy and the family's privacy.”
Sanders declined further comment on Paris' condition or the circumstances that led to her hospitalization.
Fire and sheriff's officials confirmed they transported someone from a home in Paris' suburban Calabasas neighborhood for a possible overdose but did not release any identifying information or additional details.
Paris frequently posts messages about her life on Twitter, where she has more than a million followers.
One of her most recent posts was from the Beatles' song “Yesterday”: “yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away now it looks as though they're here to stay.” Another post included the question, “I wonder why tears are salty?”
A 20-minute video of the teen applying makeup was posted to YouTube last week. Paris says on Twitter she doesn't know how the video, in which she repeatedly asserts, “I am so weird,” ended up on the site.
“I hope you guys liked it tho and didn't think i'm too crazy,” she wrote. “i get weird when i'm not around people lol.”
Katherine Jackson shares guardianship of her son's three children _ Paris and her brothers Prince, 16, and Blanket, 11 _ with the singer's nephew, TJ Jackson.
Messages left for TJ Jackson's attorney were not immediately returned.
“We appreciate everyone's thoughts for Paris at this time and their respect for the family's privacy,” said a statement from Eric George, an attorney for Debbie Rowe, Paris' biological mother.
Paris' uncles Tito, Marlon and Jackie echoed that sentiment in their statement Wednesday: “Thank you for the outpouring of concern and support for Paris _ she is safe and doing fine. We truly appreciate you respecting our family's privacy at this time.”
Michael Jackson kept his children out of the spotlight during his lifetime. After his death from an overdose of the anesthetic propofol in June 2009, the children took on a more public life, beginning with their father's memorial service, which included Pars' tearful goodbye to her father. She has expressed interest in starting a singing career, has plans to star in a movie, and has been featured in different magazines. Her older brother Prince was a guest correspondent earlier this year for “Entertainment Tonight.”
In recent months, she has reconnected with Rowe, with whom she has had little contact for most of her life.
The children are listed as plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed by their grandmother against concert giant AEG Live LLC, who she claims is responsible for her son's death. Katherine Jackson's lawsuit claims AEG failed to properly investigate the doctor convicted of causing the singer's death, and pushed the superstar to rehearse and perform a planned series of 50 comeback shows titled “This Is It.”
Paris and Prince are listed as potential witnesses in the case, which is in its sixth week of trial.
Katherine Jackson's trial attorney, Brian Panish, declined comment Wednesday morning on Paris Jackson's condition. Her hospitalization came hours after AEG Live's CEO Randy Phillips told a jury that he believed the lawsuit was a shakedown and extortion attempt and that the company should not be held responsible for Michael Jackson's death.
Sanders said outside court Wednesday there is “no basis that there is anything related to potential testimony for anything that was going on in her (Paris') life.”
“Paris is a good strong person, but she's a sensitive person,” Sanders said. “It's no secret how incredibly close Paris was with her father.”
He said Katherine Jackson is “naturally concerned” about her granddaughter. (AP)
