What Happened To Michael Jackson's 'Oldest Son' Omer Bhatti?
Fans of Michael Jackson are of course familiar with the late singer's three famous children, Paris Jackson, Prince Jackson, and Prince Michael II Jackson. However, many may be shocked to learn that the King of Pop is rumored to have fathered a fourth child. Rumors began circulating in the early 2000s that Jackson had a "secret son" from before his relationship with Debbie Rowe.
The child, Norwegian dancer and rapper Omer Bhatti, was born in Oslo in 1984. Bhatti later traveled to California, where his mother worked as a nanny for Prince, while his father reportedly worked as one of Jackson's drivers, according to Stacy Brown, a Jackson biographer who once worked as a family spokesman, per ABC News.
Jackson's death in 2009 sparked further paternal speculation as Bhatti was seated alongside Jackson's other three children during the singer's memorial service. Paris, 23, also gushed about her relationship with Bhatti, who she refers to as her "oldest brother" in an episode of her Facebook Watch series "Unfiltered." The reference may come as a surprise to fans who have always thought Paris' only brothers were Prince, 24, and Prince Michael II (nicknamed Blanket), 19.
The other Jackson have accepted Omer Bhatti
Rumors of a secret Michael Jackson love child were further exacerbated when the Jackson family patriarch, Joe Jackson, seemingly confirmed that Omer Bhatti was Jackson's son. "Yes, I knew he had another son, yes I did," Joe told TV One (via ABC News) in a 2009 interview. "He looks like a Jackson, he can dance like a Jackson. This boy is fantastic dancer — matter of fact, he teaches dance." Likewise, Michael's siblings Jermaine and Rebbie also expressed care for Bhatti.
Despite this declaration, Bhatti shies away from the notion that he is biologically related to the Jacksons, but says he feels extremely close to the "Thriller" singer's other children. "I consider myself an older brother because when Prince was born, my mom was hired to be Prince's nanny, and Paris, I've been there since she was a baby," Bhatti said during an episode of Paris Jackson's "Unfiltered." Bhatti went on to explain that while he is not biologically related to Michael Jackson, his love for the late musician started when he was only 9-years-old. "He would later say that I was like a mini-version of him," Bhatti reflected. "And I ended up going on tour with him. I would have a seat, like, right on stage."
Bhatti finds his own path
Following Michael Jackon's death in 2009, Omer Bhatti remained in Los Angeles for some time to work on his music career, according to the Daily Mail (via ABC News). The dancer and rapper has released several music videos on his official YouTube account, and let's just say, he has moves!
Today, Bhatti is traveling back and forth between the U.S. and Norway, as displayed on his Instagram account, and is still actively pursuing a music career. His latest single "Meditation" was released in 2019 and showcases Bhatti's Jackson-inspired dance moves. However, finding his way back into the public eye after Jackson's death wasn't the most natural transition.
"I have to say that I do not like the word spotlight, but after being out of the public eye for a while and coming back, I discovered that it was all right, but far from as exciting as it used to be," Bhatti told Norwegian publication Vegan Norge in 2021. He added, "I have gone from always trying to see the end result and the goal, and trying to be somewhere else — to rather focus on being present in the now and enjoying the moment here and now."