Paris Jackson has apologized for appearing on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar in Singapore, where consensual sex between men is punishable by up to two years in prison.
The actress and model, who also happens to be Michael Jackson’s daughter, is herself a member of the LGBTQ community and said she wasn’t aware of the situation there before agreeing to appear on the magazine.
Jackson responded to an op-ed in Gay Star News that criticized her alleged hypocrisy in appearing on the cover, calling it a “misfire,” by taking to Twitter to both apologize and defend herself, asking if it shouldn’t instead be seen as “a step forward.”
i didn’t know, i am sorry. i was grateful for the opportunity, but i’ll delete the post now. i don’t want to be hypocritical or hurt anyone, and my support for my fellow LGBTQ+ community comes first before my love for fashion and gratitude for this opportunity. again, i’m sorry. https://t.co/ntokVfCZZS
— Paris-Michael K. J. (@ParisJackson) August 19, 2018
i would like to add though that someone that is openly apart of the community being on the cover in a country against the community, should be celebrated. isn’t that a step forward? again, i am deeply sorry. i didn’t mean to be hypocritical or hurt anyone.
— Paris-Michael K. J. (@ParisJackson) August 19, 2018
also that article is ridiculously mean.
— Paris-Michael K. J. (@ParisJackson) August 19, 2018
i stay at home for a week recovering, recalibrating, in my pajamas watchin cartoons n cuddling my dog, not doing anything wrong… nd people still find ways to write horribly rude mean and hurtful things about me. STILL try to find anything to get mad at me for. #tallpoppysyndrome
— Paris-Michael K. J. (@ParisJackson) August 19, 2018
they will find anything to try to attack my integrity and character. whenever i do something positive they always twist it. the tabloids and media have been like this for decades and decades, it’s very sad. https://t.co/KLpDOYOsdF
— Paris-Michael K. J. (@ParisJackson) August 19, 2018
Jackson has also been retweeting defenses of her choice to appear on the cover of the magazine, including from her manager, Tom Hamilton, who wrote a statement in response to the op-ed, arguing that the move was in fact a positive one for the community.
“This is the kind of awareness and normalcy our LGBT allies should be promoting, especially in countries that need it the most. It takes courage and guts to stand up and be a face of change,” Hamilton wrote.
i love you so much. thank you for this you’re the best https://t.co/t57WgU3wvr
— Paris-Michael K. J. (@ParisJackson) August 20, 2018
Others came from fans and well-wishers.
In no way are you a hypocrite , your are a beacon for those lgbt people in Singapore ! @gaystarnews you got this massively wrong! Trail Blazer 🙌🏻🙌🏻
— Jaymi Hensley (@JaymiUJWorld) August 19, 2018
Girl celebrate your accomplishment. This is a big win for you!! Forget them folks. They just bored and getting paid to write corny articles about nothing. No one is offended
— Lorine (@LorineChia) August 19, 2018
Having a community member on the cover is actually really groundbreaking because it allows LGBTQIA+ members in Singapore feel represented. In a country where it would be taboo to even be seen or acknowledged, she landed a cover. That’s huge. For both her & the publication https://t.co/w9rHP9iWy8
— Lauren Jauregui (@LaurenJauregui) August 19, 2018