Paris Jackson's Godfather Offers 'Olive Branch' to Her

20 June 2013

Paris Jackson with Debbie Rowe

Paris Jackson's godfather thinks Michael Jackson would want him to extend an "olive branch" to her.

The troubled teen's godfather, British actor Mark Lester - who has claimed he could be Paris and her elder brother Prince's biological father, as he donated sperm to the late 'Thriller' star - has said he wants Paris to come over to the UK and stay with him.

He thinks a break from Los Angeles - where she is currently recovering in hospital after a suspected suicide attempt - could be just what she needs.

When asked by TV host Jeremy Kyle what he thought the late Michael would want from him, he replied: "I think he'd be expecting me to give the olive branch, a place for her sanctuary, a place to come and stay. I have suggested very strongly that Paris comes and stays with us ... I make that suggestion as a godfather, as a friend.

When asked how he thought his family environment would be better for Paris, Mark - who has four children of his own - said: "Certainly it would be a breath of fresh air, hang out with people who are not going to idolise her for being Paris Jackson but for being the kid that she is, she just needs friends."

Mark was also asked if he would be prepared to take a DNA test, to see if he is the biological father of Paris, 15, or Prince, 16, whose mother is Debbie Rowe, who was artificially inseminated for both her pregnancies.

Michael also has a younger child, Blanket, 11, whose mother is unknown.

Recalling the moment when his long-time friend Michael asked him for a sperm donation, Mark said: "Years ago Michael phoned me up and asked me; we were talking about my kids, he didn't have any of his own, my wife at the time had just given birth to my third daughter and we were joking and I said, 'Well I just have to look at her and she gets pregnant.' He said, 'Well Mark I really want to have kids of my own.' And I said, 'It's a natural thing, you've just got to go out there and do it.' And Michael was always quite wary about women for whatever reasons, so that conversation ended. Then he phoned me again sometime later and he was talking about fertility and it transpired he wanted me to give a sperm donation.

"He said, 'Would you be able to help me out.' I went a couple of times to a clinic in London."

When Mark was asked why he never tried to find out from Michael if he was the biological father of his children, he replied: "When I gave what I gave, and I'm sure several other people did at the same time, that was it. I washed my hands of it. There were rumours of the story coming out, so I came forward."

Mark also said he hasn't seen any of the Jackson children since the late King of Pop was laid to rest in June 2009, after passing away from acute Propofol intoxication days before the beginning of comeback 'This is It' shows.