Michael Jackson’s son Prince writes a tribute 15 years after the singer’s death

Michael Jackson cast a massive shadow over the music world. He completely transcended the medium and redefined what it meant to be a pop star, for better or worse. June 25 marked the 15th anniversary of Jackson’s death, prompting numerous tributes from his fans on social media. But the most notable statement came from Prince Jackson, the son of the King of Pop.

Prince, who was only 12 years old when Michael Jackson died, posted a photo next to his father on Instagram. “Miss you, dad,” he wrote in the brief, if touching, caption. “The world felt better with you in it.” Prince has made fewer controversial remarks about MJ than his sister Paris, sticking mostly to happy childhood memories. That’s exactly what he did during a KTLA interview in March. Prince told the outlet that Michael Jackson never pushed him to pursue a career as an entertainer. “My dad always said, ‘I don’t care what you want to be when you grow up, you just have to be the best at it,'” he recalled.

Michael Jackson’s legacy is more relevant than ever. The pop star’s career will be the focus of the upcoming film Michaelwhich is scheduled for release in April 2025. The title role will be played by MJ’s nephew (and Prince’s cousin) Jaafar Jackson. Prince is not involved in the production, but he has given his blessing to the film and its creators. He also posted a photo of Jaafar Jackson in the role of MJ and praised his performance. “Watching you perform and bust your ass,” Prince wrote on Instagram. “This is the closest I’ll ever get to seeing my dad in concert and it’s a dream come true! I’m proud of you buddy!”

Prince Jackson wasn’t the only one to pay tribute to the King of Pop this year. Jackie Jackson, MJ’s older brother, posted a photo of the two of them performing on Instagram. “Hard to believe it’s been 15 years without you,” he wrote. “We miss you every day.” Tito Jackson also took to social media to share a black-and-white photo of his brother in his artistic prime. He didn’t provide any caption, but Tito used the hashtags #gonetoosoon and #missyoumuch.