As Paris Jackson descended on the Melbourne Cup, her neckline bouncing with trinkets and jewellery, her feet nestled in a couple of brown ankle boots, she was every bit the international celebrity who was under no obligation to go to extreme lengths to abide by the day’s strict dress code.
After all, when you’ve reportedly got a $100,000 pay check in your pocket for a few hours of small talk and a few hundred photos, the power surely sits squarely in your hands.
But what followed her fleeting and fabulous public appearance on our national stage were news reports laden with snark and sarcasm, the inference clear, the distaste made known: Paris Jackson was the 19-year-old diva with an inflated sense of self-importance.
The first whispers came from Fairfax, when the news outlet reported the teenager “wasn’t a fan” of the custom-made Alex Perry frock made for her time in the Myer marquee, instead opting for a boho number from Morrison. Of course, it would be convenient to forget, in our reporting of her ‘diva-like’ demands, that both Myer and Alex Perry received enough positive PR from the ensuing stories about the saga – arguably even more than if the dress was to be worn as instructed. Oh, and don’t forgot too, Morrison is still stocked by Myer. They’re winning here, too.
Listen: Holly, Mia and Jessie on why Paris Jackson was at the Melbourne Cup…
Next came a piece from the Herald Sun – both in print and online – with the headline “Wacko Jacko 2.0”, the accompanying photo one of the 19-year-old with her face to the window, her tongue poking out.
“Cute. You guys are f*ckin’ cowards. Bet you don’t have the balls to call me that to my face,” she wrote in response on Twitter.