Paris Jackson opens up about two failed engagements: ‘The first one was real to me even though we were strung out on drugs’
Paris Jackson has opened up about her two failed engagements and the lessons she has learned from her past relationships. The 28-year-old musician and daughter of late pop icon Michael Jackson spoke candidly about her love life during an appearance on Alex Cooper’s ‘Call Her Daddy’ podcast on Wednesday, August 12.
Paris Jackson says ending engagement to Justin Long was necessary
Speaking about her 2025 decision to end her engagement to music producer Justin Long, Jackson said it was a choice she needed to make for her own happiness.“It was a choice that I needed to make to be happy,” she said.Jackson and Long confirmed their split in July 2025. At the time, the singer had also shared an emotional post referring to “breakup tears”.Discussing the public attention surrounding her relationships, Jackson said she was familiar with having her breakups reported in the media.“As far as the public side of it goes, I’ve had people write about my breakups before, so it’s not that big of a deal,” she said, before revealing that her relationship with Long was her second engagement that she had called off.
Paris Jackson reveals details about her first engagement
Jackson also spoke about her first engagement, which she had previously kept private. She did not reveal the identity of the person she was engaged to.“The first one, I don’t know if you could count the first one. It was real to me even though we were strung out on drugs and the ring was one that he bought with my money without me knowing. It was still, like, the love was so real for me in that first one,” she said.While reflecting on her relationship with Long, Jackson admitted that she struggled to make the final decision to end the engagement.“There were times where I did try and end it, but there was this little voice being like, ‘But what if, however long down the line,’” she said.Jackson explained that she often wondered whether things might have improved if she had stayed in the relationship a little longer, describing the thought as one many people experience.
‘Just because someone is a good person doesn’t mean they’re my person’
Jackson said she considers herself someone who needs to be certain before making major decisions. She also credited people close to her for asking questions that helped her evaluate her relationship more honestly.Describing those questions, she told Cooper that her answers were not convincing enough.“My answers weren’t good enough. Just because I’ve realized just because someone is a good person doesn’t mean they’re my person,” Jackson said.She further explained that being with someone who is loyal or does not cheat is not, by itself, enough reason to remain in a relationship.“It doesn’t matter that you’re a good person and you’re not gonna cheat on me. That’s not a reason to stay,” she added, referring to Long.
Paris Jackson says she will be ‘pickier’ in love
Looking ahead, Jackson said her experiences have changed the way she approaches relationships. She revealed that she intends to be more selective and is no longer willing to overlook issues simply to make a relationship work.“I’m not willing to overlook a bunch of things,” she said. “I’m like, ‘Oh, I can be a little bit pickier.’ You know, the bar can be raised a bit because it’s historically been very low.”
