He’s the son of respected Australian journalist Terry Willesee, but it’s safe to say Jesse Sunset has no intention of following in his father’s footsteps.
The controversial hip hop artist has raised more than a few eyebrows over the years with his X-rated shenanigans, but the 30-year-old insists his parents are supportive.
In an interview with Woman’s Day on Monday, Jesse claimed his his father Terry and mother Melissa are in fact his ‘biggest fans’.
Proud: Controversial artist Jesse Willesee maintains his parents are his ‘biggest fans’ – despite his wild antics
‘My mum [Melissa] checks my Instagram account every single day to see what I’ve posted and is so involved, and dad helps me film a lot of the videos,’ Jesse said.
‘The other day I did a video where I slice up Foster’s cans with a knife, and I remember reading an article that said, “OMG, I wonder what his parents would think?” It made me laugh because dad hiked up a mountain to film that!’
Jesse says his entire family is supportive of his career as a contemporary artist – but they prefer it when he takes a more subtle approach.
‘They definitely like some of the things I do more than others – preferring the more creative and artistic, as opposed to the wild-party antics, but having said that my dad and his brothers were not conservative,’ he added.
Unlike his dad… Jesse’s father is respected Australian TV journalist Terry Willesee, who he now resides with in Los Angeles
Born to be wild… ‘My dad and his brothers were not conservative. They were pretty wild, and I think a lot of people forget that side of the Willesees,’ Jesse told Woman’s Day
‘They were pretty wild, and I think a lot of people forget that side of the Willesees.’
Jesse’s uncle is renowned Australian journalist Mike Willesee, 76.
Having been raised between Australia and the USA, Jesse now resides in Los Angeles with his parents.
Performance art: His Instagram is filled with risque photos and videos, which Jesse claims are in the name of art
His Instagram account is filled with risqué photos and videos, which Jesse claims are produced in the name of art, and he has just released a new music video.
But as offensive his material may be to some people, Jesse maintains that his outrageous public image is simply an act.
‘A lot of the stuff I do isn’t to be taken seriously, and if you look at it in a different light, people will see it’s a p**s-take more than a serious thing,’ he told Woman’s Day.
Keeping up appearances… ‘A lot of the stuff I do isn’t to be taken seriously, and if you look at it in a different light, people will see it’s a p*ss-take more than a serious thing’