Paris Jackson just confirmed her engagement is over after fans spotted her crying in public last week

Paris Jackson has confirmed that she and fiancé Justin Long have broken up, ending their engagement that was announced in December 2024. The 27-year-old model and only daughter of the late Michael Jackson made the confirmation in a post on X Thursday, addressing speculation that arose after she was photographed appearing emotional during a public outing in Malibu, California, on July 23. The breakup comes just weeks after the 16-year anniversary of her father’s death.

Photos obtained by Page Six earlier this month showed Jackson appearing distressed during what appeared to be an emotional walk. The images sparked widespread speculation about her personal life and well-being among fans and media outlets. Jackson’s relationship with Long had appeared stable as recently as earlier this month, a stark contrast to other celebrity relationships where partners maintain friendship after breakups, when she shared cozy pictures with him on Instagram while discussing her tour with Incubus and Manchester Orchestra.

According to Page Six, Jackson directly addressed the speculation surrounding the photos in her social media post, writing that “those are breakup tears, y’all are fkn reaching again” while responding to the images of her emotional appearance in public. She criticized those who were speculating about other reasons for her distress, making it clear that the tears were related to the end of her relationship with the music producer. A representative for Jackson did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the confirmation.

The relationship timeline spans over two years before the engagement announcement

Jackson and Long had been linked romantically since 2022, building their relationship over more than two years before taking the step toward marriage. In December 2024, Jackson announced their engagement by sharing pictures of Long’s proposal on their social media accounts, later revealing her very L.A. approach to wedding planning. At the time, she expressed deep affection for their partnership, writing that “doing life with you these last years has been an indescribable whirlwind and I couldn’t dream of anyone more perfect for me to do it all with.”

The engagement announcement had been accompanied by heartfelt sentiments about their future together. Jackson thanked Long for allowing her to be his partner and declared her love for him in the caption that accompanied the proposal photos. The couple’s relationship had been a source of stability during a significant period of personal growth for Jackson, who celebrated five years of sobriety just one month after announcing her engagement.

In January, Jackson marked a major personal milestone by celebrating five years clean and sober from all drugs and alcohol. She shared an empowering post describing herself as “an alcoholic and a heroin addict” while expressing gratitude for her recovery journey.

Jackson credited her sobriety with allowing her to fully experience life, including the ability to make music, love her pets, feel emotions deeply, and show up for life’s experiences. She emphasized that while life continues regardless of sobriety status, being sober allows her to be present for all of it, including both joyful moments and challenges like heartbreak.