Los Angeles, CA – November 11, 2025 – In a raw and unfiltered social media post that has resonated with fans and sparked widespread conversations about addiction recovery, Paris Jackson, the 27-year-old daughter of the late King of Pop Michael Jackson, has opened up about a permanent physical reminder of her turbulent past: a perforated septum caused by years of heavy drug use. The singer, model, and actress, known for her ethereal voice and advocacy for mental health, shared the intimate detail in a TikTok video over the weekend, blending vulnerability with her signature humor and a stark warning to her followers.
Jackson, born on April 3, 1998, to Michael Jackson and his ex-wife Debbie Rowe, has long been in the public eye, navigating the complexities of fame as the only daughter of one of music's most iconic figures. Her life has been marked by profound highs and devastating lows, including the loss of her father in 2009 at the age of 11, which thrust her into a spotlight she has both embraced and struggled with. Yet, in recent years, Paris has emerged as a beacon of resilience, channeling her experiences into music, activism, and personal growth. Her latest disclosure, however, peels back another layer, illustrating the indelible toll of substance abuse even after achieving sobriety.
In the video, which was reposted by fan accounts on TikTok and quickly amplified across platforms like Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), Jackson holds her phone's flashlight up to one nostril, illuminating a visible cavity in the cartilage that divides her nostrils – a condition medically known as a perforated septum. "I realized I never addressed this and it can sometimes be very noticeable," she begins, her voice steady but laced with the weight of reflection. "I have a really loud whistle because you can hear it when I breathe through my nose, and that is because I have what is called a perforated septum." She pauses, then adds with unflinching honesty: "That is from exactly what you think it's from... Don't do drugs, kids."
The perforation, she explains, dates back to when she was around 20 years old – a period of intense experimentation and self-destruction that she has described in past interviews as a desperate bid to cope with grief, anxiety, and the pressures of celebrity life. Cocaine, a stimulant often snorted through the nose, is a notorious culprit for such damage, as its caustic chemical composition erodes the delicate mucosal lining and cartilage over time, leading to holes that can range from pinpricks to gaping voids. According to medical experts, including those cited by the Cleveland Clinic, perforated septums can also stem from infections, injuries, autoimmune disorders, or prolonged exposure to irritants like nasal sprays, but in Jackson's case, the correlation to drug use is direct and self-attributed.
To underscore the severity, Jackson delivers a vivid, almost absurdly relatable analogy: "It's so big that I can stick a piece of spaghetti from one side and it will make an arch shape out the other." The image – part grotesque, part darkly comedic – has elicited a mix of empathy and shock from her 5.5 million Instagram followers and beyond. Comments flooded in, with users praising her bravery: "This is why you're an inspiration," one wrote, while another shared, "Thank you for being real – it saves lives." The post, viewed millions of times within hours, aligns with Jackson's ethos of transparency, a trait she's honed since her 2017 documentary Paris Jackson: Life in the Shadow of the King of Pop, where she first discussed her struggles with depression and self-harm.
Living with the condition, Jackson admits, is no small feat. The whistling sound during nasal breathing is just one annoyance; crusting, dryness, and a noticeable dip in the bridge of her nose add to the daily discomfort. It's particularly challenging in the recording studio, where her career as a musician demands precision. "It's been a bitch," she confesses, noting how the hole complicates airflow and focus during long sessions. Despite these hurdles, surgery remains off the table for now. Septal perforation repair typically involves grafting tissue from elsewhere in the body to patch the hole – a procedure that, while effective in 80-90% of cases per otolaryngology studies, requires general anesthesia and post-operative pain management. Jackson, fiercely committed to her recovery, balks at the idea of relying on opioids or other narcotics. "You have to take pills when you do a surgery that gnarly," she says, shaking her head. "I don't want to f*** with that." Her stance echoes a broader philosophy: sobriety isn't just abstinence; it's a holistic refusal to tempt fate with any substance, even medically prescribed.
This revelation comes nearly a year after Jackson marked a monumental milestone: five years of sobriety from alcohol and heroin, announced in an emotional Instagram Reel on January 7, 2025. The post, a montage juxtaposing clips of her partying and weeping with joyful scenes of dancing, performing, and cuddling her pets, went viral, amassing over 10 million views. "Hi, I'm PK and I'm an alcoholic and a heroin addict," she captioned it. "Today marks 5 years clean & sober from all drugs and alcohol. To say that I'm thankful would be a poor euphemism. Gratitude hardly scratches the surface." The video's raw progression – from dimly lit nights of excess to sunlit moments of presence – symbolized not just survival, but reclamation. She elaborated: "It's because I'm sober that I get to smile today. I get to make music. I get to experience the joy of loving my dogs and cat. I get to feel heartbreak in all its glory. I get to grieve. I get to laugh. I get to dance. I get to trust."
Jackson's path to this point was anything but linear. Her addiction spiraled in her late teens, exacerbated by the lingering trauma of her father's death – ruled a homicide due to acute propofol intoxication administered by his personal physician, Conrad Murray, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011. In a 2021 Red Table Talk appearance, Jackson revealed multiple suicide attempts, triggered by bullying, identity struggles, and the isolation of growing up under constant scrutiny. Heroin and alcohol became escapes, but they deepened the abyss. By 2020, at age 22, she entered rehab, emerging with a renewed focus on therapy, meditation, and creative outlets. Her debut album Wilted (2020) and follow-up singles like "Bandaid" (2023) weave these themes into introspective folk-pop, earning acclaim for their authenticity.
Professionally, Jackson's star continues to rise. She's modeled for high-profile brands like Calvin Klein and starred in FX's American Horror Story: Double Feature (2021), but music remains her core. In 2025 alone, she's teased a sophomore album with Republic Records, collaborated with artists like Incubus, and performed at festivals despite fan backlash over scheduling conflicts with her father's death anniversary. Personally, she's engaged to musician Justin "Blue" Long, a bandmate whose support has been pivotal in her journey. Yet, as her septum story shows, recovery is ongoing; scars – physical and emotional – don't vanish.
Experts hail Jackson's openness as a public service. Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), has noted that visible consequences like perforated septums affect up to 5% of chronic cocaine users, often leading to chronic sinus issues or saddle-nose deformity if untreated. By sharing, Jackson destigmatizes these realities, potentially steering youth away from similar paths. Her message evolves from outright prohibition to nuanced wisdom: "Or do [drugs], I mean, everyone is going to have the experience they need to have with life. I'm not going to tell anyone what to do. I don't recommend it because it ruined my life." This balance – accountability without judgment – mirrors her advocacy for environmental causes and LGBTQ+ rights, where she's donated proceeds from tours to organizations like the Trevor Project.
As November 2025 unfolds, Jackson's story underscores a universal truth: healing is imperfect, but presence is the prize. With her perforated septum as a tangible talisman, she reminds us that some battles leave marks, but they don't define the victor. Fans await her next chapter – perhaps a track chronicling this very whistle – knowing Paris Jackson's voice, in all its forms, will keep cutting through the noise.
