Hidden from public view inside the walls of the Neverland Ranch, Michael Jackson died of a drug overdose on June 25, 2009. His children Prince, Paris, and "Blanket" (now Bigi) ranged in age from 12 to 7, with Bigi being the youngest.
Paris and Prince have, in their teens and into adulthood, been very active on social media, attracting no end of attention, good and bad. But Bigi? No, he is the quiet one, the private one, the one who usually shuns the spotlight. Of late though, there are signs that he is coming out of his shell. Last year, he turned 18-years-old and became an "adult". Since then, he's made appearances at public gatherings, even gotten involved in a YouTube Channel. We'll get to the house in a gated community he's bought later.
For much of his childhood, the boy born Prince Michael II was called Blanket. To say he hated the nickname is a gross understatement. Back in 2015, he declared Blanket no more. Call me Bigi ("B.G."). And since then he's come a long, long way.
Here are 15 lesser-known facts about Paris and Prince Jackson's little brother Bigi. Turns out, he's pretty cool.
15 How DID He Get The Name Blanket?
OK. Everybody knows that Michael Jackson got more and more whacko as he aged. He had a morbid fear of his three children being kidnapped and/or harmed. So, when they were out in public, they were forced to wear veils or blankets over their heads. Add to this the "balcony" incident and you can see why Prince Michael II became known as "Blanket".
14 He Got Famous When His Father Dangled Him Over A Balcony
Prince Michael, a.k.a. Blanket and now Bigi, was born in 2002. There was pandemonium when dad Michael appeared on a hotel balcony with the baby, a blanket over its head, and then proceeded to kind of dangle him over the side of the balcony. It was a scary moment and, sad to say, typical of the sort of crazy things Jackson did in his last years. But it cemented that dreaded nickname, "Blanket".
13 Of The Three Kids He Took His Dad's Death The Hardest
Blanket, now Bigi, was the youngest of Michael Jackson's three children. Paris Jackson was born in 1998 and Prince in 1997. Dad Michael died in 2009 when Bigi was only 7-years-old. Paris at 11 and Prince at 12 were older and, while they were extremely upset, were better able to cope. Bigi felt lost and upset. He was the most vulnerable and the one most touched by Michael's death. Of the three, he is also the most sensitive and thoughtful.
12 The Identity Of His Mother Has Always Been A Secret
So much speculation surrounds Michael Jackson's three children. Was he even the biological father? Some say yes. Others say no. We know that he was married to Debbie Rowe, the mother of Paris and Prince, but not, it would seem, of Bigi. In interviews, Jackson said that Bigi's mom was a paid surrogate. Certainly, his coloring and facial features are different from his siblings.
11 He Changed His Name Because Of "Blanket Bullying"
What kind of nickname is "Blanket"? It's one that sets up its carrier for kidding, bullying even. So, sick and tired of the bullying, Blanket became Bigi. He simply said forget Blanket call me Bigi when he started the Buckley School in Sherman-Oaks in 2015. And the name stuck. It's a special nickname for a special 18-year-old.
10 Bigi, "B.G.", Has A Special Meaning
It's pronounced B.G. What does it mean? Well, Bijis are said to be cooperative, courteous and considerate people. They seem to have the knack for sensing what's going on inside other people's heads and dealing with it. They are thoughtful and very good at handling very complicated situations. Apparently, the change has had its desired effect, as Biji feels stronger and more confident than Blanket ever did. And that's a good thing.
9 Sis Paris Calls Him Strong, Intelligent And Determined
All three of Michael Jackson's children have a strong sense that their father is looking down and keeping watch over them. And they have lived their lives accordingly. Paris, who has had her ups and downs, has gone on record saying that Bigi is strong, intelligent, and determined. And that, over the last few years, he seems to have grown and matured. But he's still her baby brother!
8 He Likes To Keep Himself To Himself
Paris and Prince, his older siblings, have busy social media presences and put themselves out there. Sometimes that's a good thing. But sometimes it's a bad thing. In 2019, Paris's suicide attempt went viral. And Bigi? He prefers to keep himself to himself. Sure he does a bit of Facebook and Instagram. But it's pretty low key stuff, the occasional post or two.
7 Bought A $2.6 Million House
So, he's 18-years-old and out from under whatever guardianship the Jackson family saw fit to impose on him. So, what does he do but buy a $2.6 million house in exclusive Calabasas, California? The six-bedroom and 7.5 bath house is Mediterranean in style. And don't forget the 24/7 security patrol. We think Variety was kidding when they called it a starter home. The place is 6,400 square feet!
6 Does Movie Reviews On YouTube
Bigi, bro Prince, and cousin Taj launched a YouTube Channel last year. For what? Movie reviews that's what. Their first was appropriately Avengers: Endgame. It was one of the first times Bigi has "come out" and done something publicly. And he does pretty well too. Apparently, he's a big movie fan and was persuaded by big brother to do the gig.
5 Net Worth Thanks To His Dad
Michael Jackson died of a drug overdose in 2009, leaving behind him three children and a fortune running into hundreds of millions of dollars. Now, what happened next wasn't easy to watch, as elements of the Jackson clan tried to take control of the heirs (the kids). These days, each of the three children is worth around $100 million, consisting of cash and things like royalties from Michael's music.
4 His Connection To His Father's Family Is Important To Him
Bigi is very tight with certain members of the Jackson clan. Cousin Taj who appears alongside Bigi on YouTube is probably top of the list, with Jermaine and T.J. Jackson right up there as well. The support of the "good" elements of his family was important to the young Bigi following his father's death. And these days, the clan pulls together, for the most part. Seems there are 30, count 'em, 30 cousins.
3 Of Living With Grandma And Private School
Katherine Jackson, Bigi's grandmother, has always been one of his biggest supporters and fans. All three of the kids lived with her after Michael's death, with Bigi being the last to leave when he turned 18-years-old. She and son T.J. Jackson were co-guardians. When she got too old to cope, T.J. became the sole guardian. Bigi's real coming out came when he changed his name from Blanket and entered the Buckley School.
2 Prince, Paris, And Bigi: Close-Knit And Supportive
Like the survivors of a terrible tragedy, which they really are, the three Jackson kids have a close and supportive bond. When Prince graduated from college in 2019, Bigi, in a rare public appearance, was there. Paris is very protective of her "baby brother". These days, they all seem in a good place. At last. Through thick and thin, they have stuck together.
1 Celebrating More Than Just Turning 18-Years-Old
Okay, it's February 23, 2019, and Bigi's 18th birthday bash. Paris was there, as was Prince and Taj. This post shows the four Jacksons looking a little less than festive. Maybe they are just showing some attitude for the fans. They had sushi together and, in the social media post, Paris shared her memories of changing his diapers. We'll pass over that one. After all, Bigi was officially an adult.