When most people think of Michael Jackson, they picture him on a stage in front of a screaming crowd.
His daughter Paris remembered him somewhere else entirely. In the kitchen.
She was just 12 when she sat down with Oprah Winfrey for an episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” that aired on Monday, Nov 8, 2010. It was about a year after Michael passed away.
Paris wasn’t alone. Her big brother Prince was 13, and their little brother Blanket, who goes by Bigi now, was 8. The kids were taped in the Jackson family’s back yard with several of their cousins. Their grandmother Katherine Jackson, Michael’s mother, also spoke with Oprah.
The show’s own preview gives you a feel for the episode before you hear what Paris said.
Oprah’s 2010 preview of her talk with Michael’s children
Paris had plenty to say about her dad. She remembered him taking her to art museums, and she wanted people to know what he was like at home.
“I think no one understands what a good father he was,” she said.
Then she gave him a brand new title.
“I’d say he was the best cook ever.”
The best cook ever. Coming from a 12-year-old, that’s high praise. Kids are tough critics at the dinner table. If something doesn’t measure up, they’ll let you know. Paris was talking about her own dad, and she put it plainly.
So what did the King of Pop make that earned him that title? Paris had an answer ready, and it was a breakfast favorite.
“He made the best French toast in the world.”
French toast! It’s the plain, warm breakfast families all over America make on a lazy morning. Paris didn’t say how he made it or what his secret was. She just knew nobody could top it.
That’s part of what makes the answer so charming. You might expect the child of a superstar to talk about giant stages or famous friends. Paris went straight to breakfast.
It’s a small detail, but it changes the picture. Somewhere between world tours, Michael was standing at the stove making breakfast for his kids. And they loved it.
Bigi stayed mostly quiet during the interview, but he did get one funny complaint in. He said his big brother Prince “could get away with anything” with their dad, while Bigi couldn’t. Every family with more than one kid knows that feeling.
The interview made news well beyond the US. Australia’s Channel 10 ran a short report on the family’s appearance with Oprah, and it’s a nice way to see how the moment played at the time.
A 2010 news report on the Jackson family’s Oprah interview
Years have passed since that day in the back yard, and Michael’s kids are grown now. But that answer from Paris still sticks.
Out of everything her father ever did on stage, the thing she picked to brag about was his French toast. Next time you make a batch on a Sunday morning, it’s a fun thought to keep in mind.