Gladys Knight says it's right to hit children

Soul legend and famed Jackson family friend Gladys Knight thinks Paris Jackson is a snot-nosed little brat for bashing Janet -- in fact, Gladys says Paris deserves to get her TEETH knocked out for mouthing off to her elders.

Gladys appeared on "The Talk" Thursday ... saying, "Paris is 14? How old is Janet? Who's the one to try to direct the other one here? I would think it's a good thing [Janet] lets Paris know who she is."

Gladys added, "If [Paris] called me that, she would have no teeth ... That's how we were brought up. You respect your elders."

As we reported, Paris and Janet faced off in an explosive argument at the Jackson compound this week. Sources tell us Janet called Paris a "spoiled little bitch" ... and Paris shot back, "This is our house. Not the Jackson family house. Get the f**k out!"

No interest for Gladys Knight and her family, but Michael Jackson raised very well-mannered and educated children WITHOUT the policy of violence - in no shape - and NEVER would have allowed someone to do it. What Michael Jackson's daughter, Paris, did was to react to an assault by which Janet and her brothers tried to kidnap her and her brothers, like they had already done with Katherine, therefore her reaction was more than right and furthermore Janet (and her siblings) have NO right on Michael Jackson's children and their legacy.