Paris Jackson pictured with worrying self-harm scars on her arm weeks before suicide attempt
- Aspiring actress was seen with rows of scars on her arm six weeks ago
- Paris was reportedly suffering from 'depression' and felt 'unloved'
- Sources claim Paris wanted to be 'free' of guardian Katherine Jackson
- Mother Debbie Rowe, 54, 'could seek legal custody' of her daughter
- Brother Prince Michael cancels TV appearance after his sister's trouble
- Paris, 15, is recovering on 'psychiatric ward' of an LA hospital
By LOUISE SAUNDERS and DONNA MCCONNELL
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She tragically attempted to take her own life on Wednesday afternoon.
But it appears that Paris Jackson’s cry for help may have started some time ago.
In previously published pictures, the 15-year-old daughter of late singer Michael Jackson was seen six weeks ago with a crop of scars on her forearm – which appear to suggest she has been self-harming.
Paris, 15, has reportedly been on a psychiatric ward for 72 hours after she apparently cut her wrists on Wednesday.
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Concerning: Paris Jackson was seen with worrying self-harm scars on her arms just a matter of weeks before she attempted to take her own life
Seen on a lunch date out with her birth mother, Debbie Rowe, at the Fire Island Grill in Palmdale, California, on April 28, rows of scars could clearly be seen on the troubled teenager's forearm as she raised her arm in a rock sign.
Cry for help? The teenager's scarred forearm could clearly be seen as she raised her arm in the direction of the photographer's camera
Seen on a lunch date out with her birth mother, Debbie Rowe, at the Fire Island Grill in Palmdale, California, on April 28, rows of scars could clearly be seen on the troubled teenager's forearm as she raised it arm in her a rock sign.
Lines of marks - typically associated with self-harming - can be seen coursing down the teenager's arm from her wrist and almost reaching her elbow.
In the light of Paris's suicide bid, it would appear that the teenager had been in need of support for some weeks in the lead-up to the attempt.
The latest tragic turn her relatively short life is somewhat unsurprising given the personal struggles she has endured over the course of the last few years.
Not only did the teen lose her superstar father prematurely when he passed away in 2009, but she has also had to put up with a great deal of criticism surrounding her recent reconnection with her birth mother.
Paris began rebuilding her relationship with her mother, who signed custody of her children over to Michael after her divorce from the singer in 1999, following her father's tragic passing in 2009.
However, her elder brother Prince, 16, is said to have been less than understanding about Paris' desire to reconnect with their absent parent, causing a rift between the siblings.
A source told E! News: 'It's been a very difficult time. Paris has wanted Debbie in her life... She's a young girl and having a female mother figure has been something she has desired for as long as she can remember, but it has caused problems in the family.
Worrying: The scars were seen as the youngster headed out for lunch with her birth mother, Debbie Rowe, at the Fire Island Grill in Palmdale, California, on April 28
'It has caused some problems between Paris and Prince. It's a very personal choice for both of them and they do not see eye to eye on it at all. But Paris has believed from the start that it is something that Prince will come around to, that he will change his mind as he gets older.'
The source added that Paris felt 'alone and confused' after Prince refused to 'understand her wanting to have a relationship with her mom'.
Paris' grandmother Katherine, who is currently guardian of Paris and her two siblings Prince and Blanket, is also said to have been unsure about the relationship being rebuilt but 'understands that this is what Paris needs and she would not want to stand in her way.'
In fact, the teenager's relationship with the Jackson family is believed to have become so strained that it was recently claimed she will walk away from her relatives and 'never return' as soon as she turns 16.
Mark Lester, who is godfather to all three of Michael's children, recently told Grazia magazine: 'I'm sure when Paris hits 16 she will take herself out of that Jackson clan, walk out of that door and never turn back. She will never go back. I'm glad she's got Debbie Rowe in her life.
'Tough time': In the light of the youngster's suicide bid, it would seem she had been self-harming for some time in the lead-up to the attempt
'It appears to be the case that each family member has a different agenda. You've got all the brothers and sisters taking an interest in their lives now. I think it's inevitable when they reach 16, or when Katherine dies, that they will say to the rest of the family, "Back off, it's my life".
'It must be hard for Katherine, being an 83-year-old having teenage kids running around. It must be very difficult for her stepping in as a mother when she was always granny, which brings us back to Debbie Rowe. I think it's a good thing she's coming back on the scene, perfect timing.'
A source close to the teenager said that Paris wanted to be free of her family guardians after suffering from depression 'for some time' and felt 'unsolved' following the death of her father in June four years ago.
It has been revealed that being surrounded by various members of her family and their entourage had made the teenager feel 'alone' adding that she 'misses her father everyday.'
Bonding: Paris has been getting closer with her mother Debbie Rowe of late, seen here together last month
Spotted: Paris' mother Debbie Rowe was pictured outside her Palmdale ranch in California on Wednesday
Paris even asked for 'emancipation' from her family at one point, according to the US columnist Roger Friedman, who has strong sources close to the Jackson family.
Causing a rift: Paris' reconnection with her mother is believed to have caused issues with her brother Prince
The court action would have given Paris control over her own life before legally becoming an adult at 18.
Friedman also alleged that Debbie Rowe, 54, Paris's mother and ex-wife of Michael Jackson, could seek legal custody of her daughter removing her from the Jackson family compound in Calabasas.
A family insider is quoted as saying: 'She’s a handful for the Jacksons. They don’t know what to do. Paris suffers from depression. She’s lonely, she thinks no one loves her or is listening to her. She doesn’t want to be controlled or told what to do.'
According to reports, Paris 'didn't want to die' when she reportedly attempted to take her own life on Wednesday.
The LA County Sheriff's Department will have to class the call as a suicide bid due to Paris apparently cutting her wrists and taking a drugs overdose, sources told TMZ.com that Paris' contact with a suicide helpline is an indication that the incident was in fact a cry for help.
A law enforcement source told the website: 'She wanted attention, she wanted to be saved. It makes no sense if you really want to die to call a hotline, where the person on the other end will get an ambulance over to your house.'
Siblings: Prince Michael, Paris's brother (pictured right) has pulled out of a German television show following his sister's emergency
Family: Paris, seen here as a baby with mother Debbie Rowe, father Michael and brother Prince Michael, is said to have felt 'alone' according to an insider
While another family source has claimed to Fox that it was 'not the first time' Paris had attempted to take her own life.
Paris's paternal grandmother Katherine, 83, currently shares guardianship of her and her brothers Prince Michael, 16, and Blanket, 10, with TJ Jackson, the son of Michael’s brother, Tito.
On Thursday, Prince Michael canceled an appearance on German television, following his sister's troubles.
The teenager was scheduled to make a guest appearance on the ZDF show Wetten, dass …? (Wanna Bet?).
'Under these circumstances, we perfectly understand that Prince Michael prefers to stay close to his family,' ZDF's Silke Blömer told People.
'We wish Paris the strength and the power to recover soon.'
Meanwhile, the producer of what is set to be Paris's acting debut has said she 'will be ready' to start filming soon.
Guardian: Katherine Jackson, (center) pictured with LaToya Jackson (left), shares guardianship of Paris with TJ, the son of Tito Jackson
If Debbie Rowe, 54, seeks legal custody of her daughter Paris, she could leave the Jackson family compound in Calabasas
Author Dennis Christen is producing the film Lundon's Bridge and the Three Keys based on his own novel.
He told UsWeekly: 'Paris will do a delightful job in her role... She's been concentrating on developing her acting skills and is becoming a very proficient actor.'
The website also reports that Paris was conscious and aware when the ambulance arrived, and put up no struggle when the emergency technicians placed her on a stretcher and took her to the hospital.
Following the reported suicide bid, Paris' family released a statement saying the teenager is 'safe and doing fine' and is recovering in a Los Angeles hospital.
Tribute: Paris and her two brothers taking to the stage at the Michael Forever Tribute Concert, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, UK, in October 2011
Upbringing: Paris told Oprah Winfrey in a rare interview last year that her father Michael Jackson did everything he could to 'protect' his children
Celebrating: Paris, seen her enjoying a birthday with her Michael Jackson, is said to her miss her father 'everyday' according to an insider
The statement, released by Paris' grandmother Katherine Jackson's lawyer Perry Sander, did not refer to the nature of Paris' emergency, but said Michael Jackson's daughter is getting the 'appropriate medical attention'.
It read: 'Being a sensitive 15-year-old is difficult no matter who you are. It is especially difficult when you lose the person closest to you her father. Paris is physically fine and is getting appropriate medical attention. Please respect her privacy and the family’s privacy
'Thank you for the outpouring of concern and support for Paris. She is safe and doing fine. We truly appreciate you respecting our family’s privacy at this time.'
Hospital drama: Paris Jackson, pictured last month in Los Angeles, was rushed to hospital in the early hours of Wednesday morning after attempting suicide
Paris' mother Debbie Rowe, who was pictured speaking to police on Wednesday outside her Palmdale ranch in California, also released her own statement, which read: 'We appreciate everyone’s thoughts for Paris at this time and their respect for the family’s privacy.'
She also reportedly told police that Paris has had 'a lot going on lately'.
Scott Miller of the Los Angeles County Fire Department said an emergency call was made from the Jackson family compound in Calabasas, California, at 1.27am yesterday 'regarding a possible overdose’.
Paris was taken out of the house on a stretcher at 2am and rushed by ambulance to a nearby hospital.
According to TMZ, a source connected to the emergency response said there were multiple cuts on one of the victim’s wrists.
Spotted: Paris' mother Debbie Rowe was pictured outside her Palmdale ranch in California on Wednesday
Police visit: The cops called around to the house to speak to Debbie about Paris' suicide bid
Alert: A police car is seen parked up outside the ranch earlier on Wednesday
Dark: Hours earlier Paris tweeted a series of alarming messages on Twitter, quoting the sorrowful Beatles song Yesterday
The reasons behind Paris' call for help reportedly stemmed from her being 'overwhelmed’ with sadness over the loss of her superstar father, according a friend of the Jackson family.
She is also in the middle of doing her exams at school and is anxious over her looming appearance in court in Los Angeles where she is due to testify in a trial connected with Jackson’s fatal overdose on June 25, 2009.
In addition, sources said she was upset at not being allowed to go to a concert by goth rocker Marilyn Manson.
She 'threw a fit’ after being told she couldn’t attend the concert on a school night and reportedly ran into her room screaming and slammed the door.
However, a source scoffed at the idea that the teen would resort to suicide over missing a concert, telling the New York Daily News: 'She’s very outgoing and has been spending time lately with Debbie and the animals. This is more just a kid acting out.’
On Thursday after learning about the incident Manson said in a message intended for Paris: 'I hope you feel better. You will be on my guest list anytime you want.'
Jackson compound: Paris was stretchered out from her Calabasas home to hospital at around 2am on Wednesday
Recovering: Paris is believed to be at the West Hills Medical Center recuperating and is said to to be 'doing ok'
The drama unfolded just hours after the teenager posted a series of alarming messages on Twitter.
At around midnight on Tuesday, she recited the sorrowful Beatles song Yesterday to her million plus followers, writing: 'Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away, now it looks as though they’re here to stay.’ An hour previously, she posted: 'I wonder why tears are salty.’
The backdrop to her Twitter page shows Vincent Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, painted while the artist was in a mental asylum in Saint-Remy, France.
The teen has posted a series of dark messages on Twitter over recent months.
In May she saluted Goth rocker Manson on her Twitter page, writing: 'Hey evil world,' while in another from that month she refers to Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, who committed suicide in 1994, as 'Jesus.'
In May she saluted Goth rocker Manson on her Twitter page, writing: 'Hey evil world,' while in another from that month she refers to Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, who committed suicide in 1994, as 'Jesus.'
In another angst-ridden tweet in February she hinted at heartache over a failed relationship, exclaiming: 'Here's to teenage romances and never knowing why they hurt like hell.'
Teenage woes: Paris seen here during a recent web chat where she gave fans make-up tips
Jackson, who died in June 2009 from a lethal dose of surgical anaesthetic propofol, was married to Rowe from 1996 to 1999.
Devestated: Paris with her aunt Janet during the memorial service held for her father in Los Angeles in 2009
Rowe, 54, met Michael when she was a nurse for Dr Arnold Klein, the singer’s dermatologist. The pair had two children together, Prince Michael, now 16, in 1997 and Paris in 1998. Jackson later had a third child, Prince Michael II, also known as Blanket, who is ten.
Rowe turned over full custody of the children to Jackson as part of their divorce but she had recently rekindled her relationship with Paris. Rowe wouldn’t comment further on the incident yesterday.
'We appreciate everyone’s thoughts for Paris at this time and their respect for the family’s privacy,’ said her lawyer Eric George.
In recent weeks, the youngster's tweets have grown increasingly dark. On June 1, Paris tweeted: 'Every time i try to distract myself it never works and i end up making the same mistake i make every single night.’
The following day she wrote: 'I hate studying alone. i can’t focus…like i just tried studying and now i’m on twitter.’
'Don’t listen to a word i say the screams all sound the same,’ she tweeted on Monday from the song Little Talks by Of Monsters And Men.
On Sunday, she quoted the lyrics from a Zee Avi song Concrete Wall – 'You say I need therapy, well, my darling, so do you. Don’t need for you to tell me what is wrong in all I say or do.’
King Of Pop: Michael Jackson seen with daughter Paris in 2005 in London, four years before his death
The years since Jackson’s death have been anything but tranquil for the star’s children as they have faced one drama after another. Last year, the turmoil broke into the open when Paris and her two brothers were ambushed by the singer’s siblings and separated from their grandmother.
Panicked by the infighting, Paris tweeted at the time, 'my grandmother is missing. i haven’t spoken with her in a week i want her home now.’
It later emerged that Katherine was taken to her oldest daughter Rebbe’s home in Arizona.
Friends said Paris has been battling depression since her father’s sudden death. 'It’s very real and very sad. She has been extremely depressed and not been able to sleep lately, staying up all night,’ an insider told Us magazine. 'She misses her dad constantly and has acted out.’
Paris is listed as a potential witness in a £26.5billion lawsuit currently being brought by the Jackson family against AEG Live – the promoters behind her father’s doomed London O2 comeback tour.
The wrongful death suit, launched by Katherine Jackson and her three grandchildren, says the singer died from an overdose of prescription drugs after a punishing schedule of rehearsals prior to the tour.
Now in its sixth week, the trial has resurrected upsetting details surrounding the death, including the star’s dependence on drugs and his frail condition at the time of his death.
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