The assumption may seem understandable at first. Fans feel connected to Michael, and his children are among the people most closely associated with his life.
Yet that expectation can create an uncomfortable situation.
A fan's relationship with a celebrity is different from a family member's relationship with a parent. Public tributes can be a meaningful expression of admiration for an audience, but they do not have to be the standard by which a family member's love is measured.
In May 2026, Paris discussed this issue during an appearance on Jack Osbourne's Trying Not to Die podcast. According to reporting by People and NME, she explained that she had once felt pressure to share aspects of her private life because she believed the public expected access to them.
That included the expectation that she should post tributes to her father on significant dates.
She has since moved toward a different understanding of privacy, emphasizing that her relationship with her father is personal and does not require public proof. (People; NME)
