Paris Jackson, daughter of the late pop legend Michael Jackson, has an unexpected appearance in the 2023 Amazon Prime Video series Swarm. The Amazon Original TV show, Swarm, was created by Donald Glover and Janine Nabers, who worked with Glover on two episodes of Atlanta. The black comedy horror miniseries follows Andrea "Dre" Greene (Dominique Fishback), a music fan who is obsessed with the pop star Ni'jah (Nirine S. Brown). Her commitment to Ni'jah takes Dre down a dark and unsettling path.
While Swarm isn't based on a true story, it weaves in themes of fandom, celebrity worship, and internet stalking that are more relevant in today's hyper-online society than ever before.Swarm's satirical and mocking edge is aided by the long list of guest celebrities who have appeared in the series. Paris Jackson is one of these characters. The second child of Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe, and Michael's only daughter, Paris began her professional music career in the 2010s and, at the end of the decade, made her way into movies and TV shows to complement her singing career.
Paris Jackson Plays Hailey/Halsey In Swarm
The Real Halsey And Swarm's Halsey Have Something In Common
Paris Jackson appears in Swarm episode 2, "Honey", as Hailey, a stripper who dances under the name "Halsey" and has an abusive boyfriend. In the episode, Hailey talks to Dre, a Black woman, and describes her father as "half". Dre, incredulous, asks, "Half-what? Black?". Hailey confirms this and explains that's why she performs under the stage name, "Halsey", which is the name of a real-life singer, Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, who also has a Black father and a white mother (via Vulture). Halsey has said about her multiracial heritage,
"I look like a white girl, but I don't feel like one. I'm a Black woman."
The real Hasley, Swarm's Halsey, and Paris Jackson all have that in common. Though they may be considered white-passing based on the color of their skin, all three identify as Black. Each character and person has a white mother and a Black (or half-Black) father, and Paris has been open about why she considers herself Black. Michael used to explain to her that she was Black, a memory that has stuck with her over the years, saying,
"[My dad] would look me in the eyes and he'd point his finger at me and he'd be like, 'You're Black. Be proud of your roots.' And I'd be like, 'Okay, he's my dad, why would he lie to me?'"
The connection between Halsey and Paris is a winking one, one that creators like Glover and Nabers would consider a deep cut for only true pop culture fans. At the same time, it provides an interesting take on a topic some people may usually find unapproachable from an outsider's perspective.
Paris Jackson's Acting Career Explained
Jackson Has Two Upcoming Movie Roles
Paris Jackson began her acting career in the 2017 TV show, Star, as the recurring character Rachel Wells, though she had appeared as herself on talk shows before then. This role led to her feature film debut in 2018, in the action comedy Gringo as Nelly. Since then, Jackson has steadily worked in both television and film, getting increasingly significant roles as the years go on.
Paris Jackson's Notable Movie & TV Roles
Title
Character
Star (2017)
Rachel Wells
Gringo (2018)
Nelly
The Space Between (2021)
Cory
Swarm (2023)
Hailey/Halsey
Open Wounds (2025)
Ginny
One Spoon of Chocolate (Unknown)
Unknown
Her biggest role is yet to come, it seems, with her starring part in the upcoming RZA-directed drama, One Spoon of Chocolate. She will costar as an unnamed character in the movie about an ex-military convict who moves to a small town to start over and find love. Post-Swarm, Paris Jackson is also set to star as Ginny in the 2025 horror film, Open Wounds.
Swarm is a horror series created by Donald Glover and Janine Nabers. Dominique Fishback plays Dre, a woman obsessed with a pop star with a fanbase collectively called the swarm. As Dre's obsession with her dream icon intensifies, the show will explore how deep - and dark - fandom can go.
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