Fan Fare

Jacko named daughter after me, Paris Hilton says

Of all the mysteries surrounding Michael Jackson’s three children, both before and since his death, the origin of the name of his daughter Paris has remained among the most clueless — up until now.

A month after the “Thriller” singer’s sudden demise, socialite Paris Hilton has laid claim to being the inspiration behind the naming of Jackson’s 11-year-old daughter.

Paris Hilton told celebrity TV show “Extra” that her family were close friends with Jackson. Her mother, Kathy, went to school with him for a while in California “and they were best friends since they were 13.”

“So I grew up knowing Michael very well and when he had his daughter, he always loved the name Paris and grew up being an uncle to me. So he asked my mom if it was okay, and of course she said ‘yes’ and I think she’s such a beautiful little girl and I’m proud we have the same name,” Hilton told Extra.

Kathy Hilton is the same age as Michael (50) and was one of the close family and friends who were invited to the singer’s public memorial in Los Angeles earlier this month. Paris made her comments while promoting her documentary “Paris, Not France”, which gets an airing on MTV next week.

But was Paris Jackson really named after Paris Hilton? And does the 11-year-old  know? If she was, then that solves one of the many mysteries surrounding the King of Pop. But now the question is, who was Blanket named for?

Gran, Mom or Aunt? Who should get Jacko’s kids?

The thorny question of who should raise Michael Jackson’s three young children goes back to the Los Angeles courts next week — and there could be three women now vying for custody.

Jacko said in his will that he wanted his Mom Katherine (pictured right) to look after them (with his good Motown friend, singer Diana Ross, as second choice).

But ex-wife Debbie Rowe (pictured left) appears to be considering staking a claim to at least the two kids ( Prince Michael I and Paris) that she gave birth to, if not also young Blanket, whose parentage has never been clarified.

Rowe this week slapped a defamation lawsuit on a woman who claimed she was willing to accept millions of dollars to give up her custody rights.

Now there’s news of a possible third contender — Jackson’s younger sister Janet (pictured right) , who has no children of her own and who according to OK! magazine has formed a special bond with the kids and is willing to raise them.

(It was Janet, remember, who comforted young Paris after she made her heart-felt tribute to “the best father you could ever imagine” at the singer’s public memorial last week.)

So we have a loving but 79 year-old grandmother, a mom who has barely had any contact with her children for 10 years, and a superstar aunt (aged 43) who may be best-known for her “wardrobe malfunction” during the 2004 halftime Super Bowl show.

Jackson fans testify at King of Pop’s memorial

By now, you all know that about 17,500 fans turned out in downtown Los Angeles for the King of Pop’s public memorial. You can read about it here, and here, and here. You can watch a slideshow here.

But we also talked to some fans outside the Staples Center, and you can watch them by clicking below. Or, if u want, add your own comment to this blog.