As fans mark the four year anniversary of Michael Jackson's death on Tuesday, the King of Pop's family continues to make the headlines. While his 15-year-old daughter Paris Jackson remains hospitalised following a reported suicide attempt, Michael's best friend spoke out about the teenager's recent distressing incident. Mark Lester revealed that he believes Paris trying to take her own life "wasn't a serious, serious attempt, but obviously a cry for help."
"He [Michael] did so much to protect his children and for them to have all this media attention, I think, he would have been quite disturbed by it," said Mark, the godfather of Michael's three children. "Whether or not it'll have any long term damage, lasting effect on them, hopefully not but he wouldn’t have wanted this." British actor Mark gave an interview on Lorraine on Tuesday morning. Michael's mother Katherine Jackson is the guardian of 16-year-old Prince Jackson, Paris and Blanket, aged 11. "As far as I'm concerned the children are in the best possible place for them, Michael was their father," said Mark. "Michael brought those children up, whether or not he was the biological father, he was their father from day one."
Paris has reportedly grown to her mother Debbie Rowe in recent months after giving Michael sole custody of their two children, Prince and Paris, following their divorce in 1999. The legendary pop star passed away on 25 June 2009 at the age of 50 after a cardiac arrest. His personal doctor Conrad Murray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
At the time of his death, Michael had been preparing for his This Is It series of comeback concerts in London. Michael's legacy lives on through the This Is It concert documentary and soundtrack and the 25th-anniversary reissue of his bestselling album Bad.