Paris Jackson Offers Candid Insights into Two Failed Engagements

Paris Jackson, the 28-year-old musician and daughter of the late pop icon Michael Jackson, has recently provided an unfiltered look into her romantic past, discussing two failed engagements and the profound lessons gleaned from these experiences. Her candid revelations came during an appearance on Alex Cooper’s ‘Call Her Daddy’ podcast on Wednesday, August 12, offering fans and the public a rare glimpse into her personal journey of growth and self-discovery.

Ending the Engagement to Justin Long: A Choice for Happiness

Jackson spoke extensively about her 2025 decision to end her engagement to music producer Justin Long. She emphasized that this difficult choice was ultimately a necessary step towards her own well-being and happiness.

“It was a choice that I needed to make to be happy,” she stated during the podcast. The split, which was confirmed publicly in July 2025, was accompanied by an emotional social media post from Jackson at the time, referencing “breakup tears.”

Addressing the inevitable media scrutiny that follows her relationships, Jackson expressed a degree of familiarity with the situation. “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 commented, before disclosing that her relationship with Long marked her second called-off engagement.

Unveiling Details of Her First Engagement

For the first time, Jackson also delved into her inaugural engagement, a relationship she had previously kept private. While she refrained from identifying her former fiancé, her description painted a complex and poignant picture.

“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 shared, highlighting the raw and intense emotions of that period, despite its challenging circumstances.

Reflecting on her engagement to Long, Jackson admitted to struggling with the finality of her decision. She recalled moments of hesitation and self-doubt. “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 confessed, acknowledging the common human tendency to wonder about alternative outcomes if one had only persisted longer in a relationship.

“Just Because Someone is a Good Person Doesn’t Mean They’re My Person”

Jackson characterized herself as someone who requires certainty before committing to significant life decisions. She credited those close to her for prompting honest self-reflection through their questioning, which ultimately helped her evaluate her relationship with greater clarity.

She explained to Cooper that her initial justifications for staying in the relationship were not robust 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 articulated, a powerful realization that underscores her evolving understanding of compatibility and personal needs.

She further elaborated that qualities such as loyalty or fidelity, while important, are not, in isolation, sufficient reasons to maintain 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, implicitly referencing her relationship with Long.

A Promise to Be “Pickier” in Love

Looking ahead, Jackson affirmed that these past experiences have fundamentally reshaped her approach to future relationships. She expressed a clear intention to be more selective and less willing to compromise on fundamental issues merely to sustain a partnership.

“I’m not willing to overlook a bunch of things,” she declared. “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.” This statement signals a mature and empowered stance on her romantic future, prioritizing self-worth and genuine connection over simply being in a relationship.