Prince Jackson Reflects on His Father's Legacy at Michael Jackson's 68th Birthday Celebration

As Prince Jackson honored his father's birthday in a rare appearance in Las Vegas, he reflected on the legacy of the pop icon and the film that carries it forward.

On August 29, Prince Jackson made a rare appearance at "Michael Jackson ONE," Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson-themed show in Las Vegas, to commemorate what would have been his father’s 68th birthday.

Prince Jackson at the premiere of Lionsgate's "Michael" at Dolby Theatre on April 20, 2026 in Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images

During the special occasion, the eldest child of the late pop icon, who also served as executive producer of the 2026 biopic, “Michael,” reflected on his father’s legacy.

“It has been so special for me to see the impact that this film has had,” he told People, adding, “It is really cool to see this new generation become exposed to his music and his message, and I am hopeful it will make the world a better place.”

In another interview around the April release of “Michael,” which stars his cousin, Jaafar Jackson, Prince was hopeful the younger audiences would understand how his father rose to stardom and how much effort he put into it.

Prince, 29, also opened up about the “emotional shock” of seeing Jaafar in costume for the first time after not having seen his father in a long time. He said his instinct was to hug his cousin in the moment, though he had to step outside briefly to collect himself.

Prince Jackson and Jaafar Jackson at the Hollywood premiere of "Michael" on April 20, 2026 | Source: Getty Images

Beyond his role on the film, Prince credits his father's history of philanthropy for inspiring him to start his own nonprofit, Heal Los Angeles Foundation. He told ABC News that his father "used his platform to highlight social needs" and that Heal Los Angeles aims to give young people the tools they need to succeed.