Michael Jackson's former wife, Debbie Rowe, has lived a life deliberately removed from the glare of fame since her divorce from the King of Pop over two decades ago. Yet, the reclusive nurse finds herself back in the headlines following explosive new rumours concerning the paternity of Jackson's youngest child, known as Blanket.
A Life Away from the Spotlight
Debbie Rowe, an American nurse who met Jackson while working at the dermatology office treating his vitiligo, married the superstar in a secret 1996 ceremony in Sydney. Their union lasted four years, ending in divorce in 2000. Since the split, and particularly after Jackson's tragic death in 2009 from a cardiac arrest induced by a drug overdose, Rowe has largely shunned public life.
This stands in stark contrast to her two children with Jackson: Prince, 28, and Paris, 27, who have embraced their place in the public eye. The couple's third child, Bigi 'Blanket', 23, was born via a surrogate, with the mother's identity never revealed. Rowe has consistently stated that Jackson was the biological father of her two children, conceived via artificial insemination.
Regret, Reconciliation, and a Cancer Diagnosis
In a rare return to the public sphere in 2022, Rowe participated in the TMZ documentary Who Really Killed Michael Jackson. She became emotional, expressing deep regret and feeling "partly to blame" for his death. Rowe confessed she did not do enough to help Jackson combat his addiction to painkillers, stating, "I was basically as bad as him, and I am so sorry I participated in it." Her admission reportedly left Jackson's family "dumbfounded."
Her personal life has also been marked by significant health and familial challenges. In 2016, Rowe was diagnosed with breast cancer. While devastating, this diagnosis served as a catalyst to mend her fractured relationship with her daughter, Paris. After a period where Paris reportedly refused her calls, the young woman stepped up to support her mother through chemotherapy. "She's my rock, she's been amazing," Rowe said of Paris on Entertainment Tonight.
The Bombshell Paternity Rumour Surrounding Blanket
Jackson's legacy is once again clouded by controversy, as fresh rumours circulate about the parentage of his youngest son, Blanket. According to sources speaking to the Daily Mail, friends of the singer now speculate that legendary actor Marlon Brando may have donated sperm to conceive the child, with Jackson raising him as his own.
The source claimed the rumours have "kicked off within the wider Jackson estate," with Prince and Paris being informed of the development. While there has long been unfair public speculation about Prince and Paris's paternity due to their fair complexions, Jackson himself addressed the issue in 2003, firmly stating: "I used a surrogate mother [for Blanket] and my own sperm cells. I had my own sperm cells in my other two children. They are all my children."
Despite his definitive statement, the new Brando theory has ignited fresh debate and confusion among those connected to the Jackson story, leaving many to try and "get their heads around it." For Debbie Rowe, the woman who once offered to have Jackson's children, these new claims add another layer of complexity to a life forever intertwined with one of music's most enigmatic and controversial figures.
