Prince Jackson surfaced in Las Vegas over the weekend to honor what would have been Michael Jackson’s 68th birthday.
The 29-year-old eldest son of the late King of Pop joined a crowd of fans at Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson ONE show on August 29, raising his right hand on the count of three to shout “Happy birthday, Michael!” in unison with attendees. Video footage captured the moment on Saturday, showing Prince dressed casually in a black backwards ball cap and black shirt as he chatted with fans and signed autographs.
The appearance marks one of the few times Prince has stepped into the public eye this year. He previously made headlines in April when he attended the Los Angeles premiere of the biopic “Michael,” where he paid a sartorial tribute to his father. The “Beat It” singer’s eldest child wore a red armband over his suit made from fabric taken from Michael’s own wardrobe.
“Michael Bush was the costume designer for my father; he designed the suit that I was wearing,” Prince said. “And actually, the armband was made out of the fabric that my dad would always wear — the red corduroy shirt. And that was my childhood, like if I hugged my father, that was what he was wearing.”
Prince, who served as an executive producer on the 2026 biographical film “Michael,” has spoken openly about his complicated relationship with his father’s public image. When speaking to ABC News, he described the pop legend as “probably one of the most misunderstood people out there.”
The Grammy winner shared Prince, daughter Paris, 28, and son Bigi, 24, with ex-wife Debbie Rowe. The former couple married in 1996 and divorced three years later in 1999. Prince was just 12 years old when his father died on June 25, 2009, from a heart attack caused by acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication at age 50.
Prince was also spotted in 2024 alongside his siblings, aunt La Toya Jackson, and uncle Marlon Jackson at the funeral of his uncle Tito Jackson. Despite the family’s intermittent public appearances, Prince has maintained a philosophy of keeping his father’s memory alive through celebration rather than mourning.
“As long as you celebrate them, they’re never gone,” he said in 2022.
The Michael Jackson ONE show by Cirque du Soleil continues its residency at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.