During her most recent sighting, some netizens expressed concern over Michael Jackson’s ex-wife’s health, noting how she looked unrecognizable. Others claimed she was missing one detail that could have made her appear younger.
This week, Michael Jackson fans were in for a treat after his ex-wife, Debbie Rowe, was spotted during a rare outing in Palmdale, California. The sighting of the late star’s former wife sparked online conversations.
The 66-year-old appeared unrecognizable while running errands. She wore a blue and white top, blue jeans, and dark sunglasses. Rowe was seen cashing a check before getting into her custom-built, supercharged $200,000 Range Rover Vogue.
She shares two children with the late King of Pop: daughter Paris, 27, and son Prince Jackson, 28. Since her 2000 divorce from Michael, Rowe has generally kept a low profile and stayed out of the spotlight.
After seeing her recent appearance, netizens quickly shared their thoughts. One person remarked, “Geeeeez… No teeeeeth 😮. [sic],” while another pointed out the same detail, explaining its significance, “She doesn’t have her teeth in. Makes her face look older.”
Echoing the sentiment, “SHE LOOKS OLDER CUZ HER TEETH ARE NOT IN. [sic]” Another user asked, “What happened?” while a concerned commenter added, “I hope she’s ok. It’s a possibility that she’s sick.”
Defending Michael’s ex-wife, someone responded, “She was never known to be a model. She’s old. Let her enjoy her life and leave her alone.”
Finding nothing unusual about Rowe’s appearance, a fan criticized the media outlet that published her photo, “She looks like any 66 yr old , hasn’t changed even her hairstyle, really pushing for a story daily mail. [sic]” However, another person expressed sympathy, writing, “sad to see she leads a quiet life … wish her well. [sic]”
The sighting in California came nine years after Rowe’s battle with breast cancer. In July 2016, she was diagnosed with the disease. At the time, both of her children were still teenagers.
Michael was 19, while his sister was 18, when their mother confirmed the diagnosis and revealed her plans, saying, “I’m a fighter and always have been.” By October that year, Rowe had already begun chemotherapy.
During an interview around that time, the then 57-year-old revealed how she had unexpectedly discovered her diagnosis. While visiting a new doctor for a “baseline ultrasound,” a technician delivered the heartbreaking news.
She recalled, “I had the ultrasound and they said, ‘Where are you having problems?’ And I said, ‘I’m not having problems.'” Michael’s ex said her doctor later apologized and told her, “I’m sorry you found out that way.”
Explaining how she prepared herself for the journey ahead, she reflected, “[My doctor] told me it was going to be a bumpy ride, and to bear with him. And it was. I had more biopsies, and more tests, and ultrasounds, blood work and things like that. But I didn’t expect — this is a lot to go through. And that was before they [even] did the lumpectomy.”
Dr. Motlagh discovered the lump and later referred Rowe to Dr. Greg Senofsy, a surgeon. After her diagnosis, she reconnected with her daughter, who became her emotional anchor throughout the difficult process.
Speaking about Paris, Rowe shared, “She’s my rock, she’s amazing. She’s been with me the whole time. She was there. First phone call, [it] took her 30 seconds [to reach out] when she found out.” She admitted that each day was a challenge throughout her treatment.
The mother of two described how “you have to work very hard to get up every morning and do this,” but having Paris beside her gave her “a reason” to get out of bed and begin each day with hope. One hospital photo, shared on social media, captured the mother and daughter sharing an intimate moment.
Discussing the image, Rowe said it means “everything” to her. She explained, “For her to kiss my bald head” shows that “[her love] is pretty unconditional.”
While Rowe’s rare public appearance has reignited interest in her life and past health struggles, her journey highlights both resilience and the power of unconditional love.
Rowe isn’t the only one in her family who doesn’t like the spotlight. As previously reported, earlier this year, her son made an exception by attending an event dedicated to honoring his late father. While some people thought the resemblance between the two was uncanny, others were proud of Prince for paying tribute to his father.
On March 8, 2025, Prince made a rare public appearance at the Sydney opening night of “MJ The Musical” in Sydney, Australia. His presence at the Lyric Theatre in Star City led to netizens comparing him to his late father.
For the event honoring his father, Prince looked dapper in a blue pin-striped suit paired with a white shirt, a purple tie, and formal shoes. The late singer’s son smiled while posing on the red carpet.
With his signature ponytail on display, his presence sparked mixed reactions from netizens. Seeing a resemblance between Prince and Michael, one person exclaimed, “Looks just like him!!”
Replying to the previous person, a netizen noted, “…He does actually. So so Paris and especially Blanket [sic].” After viewing a different photo of Michael’s son, someone else, echoing the same sentiment, remarked that the father and son were a “Mirror image” of each other.
Continuing with the posts about the young man’s resemblance to his father, another person thought Prince looked “So Much like him [sic].” However, someone else saw a different resemblance, saying, “Looks like the mother!”
Focusing on one endearing trait about Prince, a Facebook user stated, “He’s always smiling. Handsome.” Praising Michael’s son, a fan commented, “He’s a good kid he does a lot of good for charities. [sic]”
Meanwhile, instead of commenting on Prince’s looks, another person expressed admiration. They wrote, “So proud of Prince for supporting this amazing musical! His father’s legacy continues to shine.”
Seeing the same thing, someone else shared, “Prince Jackson is celebrating the King of Pop’s lasting legacy!”
This isn’t the first time that one of Michael’s children’s rare appearances has led to comments about them looking like their late father. This also happened when Bigi Jackson made a rare public appearance on October 10, 2024.
At the time, the late singer’s son who went by Blanket until his name change in 2015, was dressed casually in a faded gray Avengers T-shirt, green athletic shorts, black sneakers, and white crew socks. Bigi was photographed while on a solo lunch outing.
Michael Jackson’s rarely seen son Blanket, 22, steps out to grab lunch in Calabasas https://t.co/WjSqwMI2F4 pic.twitter.com/nuVnAWRz8H
— Page Six (@PageSix) October 11, 2024
Like his brother, he sported long dark hair that he parted in the middle and tucked behind his ears. He also boasted some facial hair. Fans who saw photos of him from this outing pointed out his striking resemblance to his late father.
One fan who saw the connection commented, “He looks alot [sic] like MJ,” while another person exclaimed, “😮 Yup, spitting image😳😳.” Sharing the same sentiment, someone else said, “I think he looks like Michael.”
Convinced that there was a family connection between Bigi and Michael, a fan remarked, “I 100% believe that this is Michael Jackson’s only true biological child😍.” Agreeing, another stated, “I see the resemblance 👀 😏.”
One fan emphasized, “He looks just like his daddy Michael!” underscoring the likeness. Another user noted, “He looks so much like his father michael and he looks like sad [sic],” hinting at both the resemblance and an observed expression.
Still, one netizen noticed the likeness, writing, “He looks so much like Michael especially from behind. Where’s the body guards [sic] though?”
Bigi is the youngest sibling of Paris Jackson, 26, and Prince, 28. He was born via a surrogate in 2002 as Prince Michael Jackson II before later settling on his new name.
He and his father were once involved in a controversial scandal that drew significant criticism. When Bigi was just nine months old, Michael Jackson held him over a hotel balcony in Berlin with a towel covering his face.
The late artist performed the stunt to present his son to fans watching from below his hotel room window. According to reports, Michael aimed for a grand “Lion King” moment.
After receiving requests from fans eager to catch a glimpse of his newborn son, he attempted to show Bigi off from his Berlin hotel window. However, this act sparked widespread backlash for putting the child at risk.
Following the controversy, the King of Pop apologized, stating, “I offer no excuses for what happened. I made a terrible mistake. I got caught up in the excitement of the moment. I would never intentionally endanger the lives of my children.”
Among his siblings, Bigi appeared to have the hardest time coping with their father’s passing in 2009. He seemed deeply affected by the loss, struggling more than Prince and Paris.
Fortunately, a family friend said, Michael’s sons found comfort in each other as best friends. They reportedly bonded over their shared love for science and science fiction.
For instance, in November 2021, the siblings hosted a “Thriller Night” event at their Hayvenhurst home. The occasion aimed to benefit the Heal Los Angeles Foundation. During the event, Bigi spoke about his father’s legacy and his passion for climate change.
EXCLUSIVE: Bigi Jackson speaks about his father, Michael Jackson's legacy for the first time.
Bigi, formerly known as Blanket, is using his voice to call on world leaders to tackle the problem of climate change as COP26 begins. pic.twitter.com/920Zlk4usK
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) November 1, 2021
He highlighted the fascinating aspects of the Hayvenhurst house and studio, emphasizing their rich history and how they reflect the musician’s legacy. He also mentioned that he and his siblings share a common goal of creating work that not only brings joy but also one that positively impacts people’s lives.
Bigi Jackson also reiterated his commitment to climate change, stressing its significance and the work that still needs to be done. He believed his generation understands its importance and is ready to take action.
