The innocent have been drawn to Hollywood’s bright lights since the dawn of the film industry, and they certainly have not been shy about going where the allure of Tinseltown takes them. In a remarkable turn, we learn that Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, appointed the one and only Elizabeth Taylor—a figure both larger-than-life and profoundly loved within her sphere—as a very special godmother to his daughter, Paris Jackson. In “Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar,” the first premiere episode of a new BBC documentary series, Paris tells her own riveting, intimate version of the famous/infamous Hollywood tale.
Paris—pure offspring of the iconic figure that is Michael Jackson—steps into the world with space-filling narratives that buzz with not only attention-grabbing circumstances but also a deeply heartfelt reason behind why the legendary Elizabeth Taylor occupies a most cherished position in her life. No more than 26 years old, Paris reflects with an ethereal quality on her father’s intuitive choice for a godmother, and she does so through a lens that is both singularly focused and quite touching. “I think because I was growing up in the spotlight,” she states with certainty, “there’s definitely a part of him that knew that we would have a very similar experience.”
From the age of seven, Elizabeth Taylor had been dazzling the world with her star quality. Homeschooling and an ivory tower existence had made their lives very different from the everyday world of play that other children enjoyed. “I don’t know what it was like to be around other kids my age,” Paris says. Yet their paths in the world were very similar. Because both lived consuming lives in the fast lane, devotion to even a basic kind of family life seemed to be elusive for them. And all this, of course, in the blazing glare of a media spotlight. Michael, with his legendary prescience, must have recognized instantly the shared destinies of these two.
The circle of luminaries around Paris extends well beyond Elizabeth. On the father’s side, her godfather Mobi Culin layers on yet another element of this Hollywood story. Culin, an individual of great discretion and strong protective instincts, has always held Paris in high regard. In a moment of unguardedness during a 2018 appearance on Mark Maron’s podcast, he referred to her with great affection as “close and beloved,” adding that she is “tall and beautiful and smart.” Over the years, Culin and Paris have cultivated a bond that is as unbreakable as it is improbable, one that has been further cemented by their creative work together.
To return to the time when Paris began to explore her rapidly blossoming acting career, it was her Uncle Mobi who lent a hand. In 2021, when Paris started auditioning for “American Horror Stories,” she wasn’t just relying on her talent. She was drawing from the encouragement and mentorship of Uncle Mobi—who, by the way, is a pretty good actor himself. Mobi told Paris that you really need to “overdo it at certain points … and make it theatrical” when you’re performing in a horror story.
Their spirited and endearing companionship is on full display in the funny give-and-take leading up to Paris’s ensemble creation for the show. Paris sent a playful selfie of her in a costume that was half adorable and half gory to Mobi. He shot back with a pic of his bloody costume shoe from “American Horror Story: Double Feature.” Of his creepy “treat,” Paris said, “So cute!” It is hard to imagine two people more in tune with each other.
These revelations provide a close look at the lives of celebrities and show their true, human sides. Paris Jackson has a story that goes beyond the continuation of her father’s and grandfather’s legacies. She weaves a narrative where her family dynamics—both the messy and the ideal—define her, and she carries forth the kind of love that binds a family together in a way that many people would consider almost superhuman.
Among the chaos of being famous, rich, and well-connected, Michael Jackson’s decision to have Elizabeth Taylor serve as godmother to his daughter Paris was a master stroke. It united two generations of Hollywood royalty and left us all aching for more of the sort of “heartwarming” tales that stars like Taylor and Jackson used to deliver in their heyday. And they say Hollywood is out of ideas!
