Macaulay Culkin might have just had his first child with Brenda Song, but he’s been a father figure for a while now.

When Culkin was 17, his good friend Michael Jackson entrusted him as his daughter Paris’ godfather, a responsibility that Culkin takes very seriously, even when his own life seemed like it was falling apart.

Culkin says that meeting Jackson changed his life. So, of course, the former child actor would honor his friend by keeping an eye on Paris after he was gone and, later on, support his legacy when a certain defamatory documentary came out. Now that he’s grown out of his rebellious ways and battled addiction, he’s starting a new life for himself. He’s accomplished a lot in recent years and has returned to acting. But through it all, he’s always been there for Paris and the rest of Jackson’s brood.

Paris is fortunate to have such a great father figure/confidante who knows what it’s like. She’s all grown up now, and it looks like she’s safely following in the footsteps of not just her father but her godfather as well. She’s breaking out into music and acting, but Culkin will have an easier time keeping a careful eye on her from now on because they’re going to be co-stars.

Here’s everything we know about Culkin’s relationship with his goddaughter.

Don’t Ask Culkin About His Relationship With Paris

Even though Culkin has revealed a lot about private life, don’t expect him to divulge any details about his relationship with Paris and her siblings. It’s an interesting contradiction, but it stems from his protective side.

Speaking on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast in 2018, he did let slip some vague details about their relationship, however, but then confessed he’d rather not talk about it.

“I am close with Paris,” was his guarded response before he said he wanted to keep their relationship private.

“I’m going to warn you now I am very protective of her, so just look out,” Culkin said. “I am a very open book when it comes to things but like with her, she is beloved by me…” Way to melt our hearts while piquing our curiosity at the same time, Culkin.

Maron said he wasn’t looking for any dirt, but Culkin said he had to warn him anyway because it’s a “dead end” where she’s concerned because he loves her so much. The podcast host decided to ask how she was doing instead, to which Culkin replied, “She’s tall and beautiful and smart. It’s great.”

Culkin’s protectiveness over his goddaughter could stem from his own experiences as a child actor living in the spotlight. He probably doesn’t want what happened to him to happen to her, which is understandable. It’s the same as any celebrity who is private about their kids. So it’s highly likely that he’ll also be just as protective of his own spawn.

To demonstrate how close they are, Culkin and Paris got matching spoon tattoos on their arms at the Tattoo Mania parlor in West Hollywood in 2017.

Paris showed their tattoos off in a birthday post for Culkin on her Instagram. “happiest of birthdays mack attack, i love you so so dearly and keep you very close to my heart. always,” she wrote with various pictures of them together.

The reason for the spoons, Culkin told Esquire this past year, stems from Culkin’s habit of stealing spoons from restaurants, airplanes, and cafes. It became sentimental between Culkin and Paris because they started gifting the utensils to each other and because Culkin’s spoon-thievery formed the basis of an important life lesson he taught her.

Culkin revealed that when Paris was coming out into the public eye, he told her, “Don’t forget to be silly, don’t forget to take something away from this whole experience, and don’t forget to stick something up your sleeve.”

So really, the tattoos are just an adorable inside joke between the friends. Paris has also posted other things about her godfather, including one photo of Culkin wearing bunny ears, promoting Culkin’s podcast series, Bunny Ears. They even go on double dates together.

It’s also adorable that Culkin is trying to impart some wisdom onto Paris, becoming her confidante and supporter. “Who better than her wise-beyond-his-years godfather to help keep her grounded—and to be there for the peaks and valleys that being a celebrity since before you even knew what the word means inevitably brings,” E! News writes. We couldn’t agree more.

Paris Will Join Her Godfather On ‘American Horror Story’

It’s one thing to impart wisdom; it’s another thing to co-star together and become a stage mom, which we can totally see Culkin doing to Paris. TMZ reports that Paris has been cast in American Horror Story season 10, along with her godfather.

Not much has been revealed about her part, of course, other than that she’ll appear in the second half of the show, “by the sand,” after the first part of the show, “by the sea” airs. On the other hand, Culkin’s has a “very, very great insane part” in the new show, creator Ryan Murphy told E! News and has “crazy erotic sex” with Kathy Bates’ character. Oh boy.

Both godfather and goddaughter had to be waiting for this day to come. Culkin will be front and center protecting Paris and giving her advice as she debuts the show. It’ll be great to see the pair onscreen together finally, and we know Jackson would be proud. Maybe Culkin will make his goddaughter godmother to his newborn son. But that would make us cry.