Additional Coverage:
- Michael Jackson’s relative issues defiant response to ‘horribly poor taste’ biopic criticism (themirror.com)
A member of Michael Jackson’s family is pushing back against critics of the highly anticipated biopic about the King of Pop.
The film, titled Michael and directed by Antoine Fuqua, is scheduled for release on Friday, April 24. It chronicles Michael Jackson’s journey from his early days with the Jackson 5 through the launch of his solo album Bad. While much of the Jackson family has shown support for the project, one relative has voiced strong opposition.
On April 21, Taj Jackson-Michael’s nephew and son of Tito Jackson-took to social media platform X to defend the film against negative press. Currently, Michael holds a 37% critic approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with some reviewers condemning the biopic as being in “horribly poor taste.”
Taj criticized the media’s portrayal of Michael, saying they no longer control the narrative about who the pop icon truly was. “The public gets to watch this movie… they will decide for themselves,” he wrote, adding pointedly, “And you can’t handle that.” He also expressed anticipation for critics to “eat crow,” admitting, “Yes, I will be that petty.”
Other members of the Jackson family have praised the film and the performance of Jaafar Jackson-Michael’s nephew and the actor who plays the lead role. At the Los Angeles premiere on April 20, Jaafar received high praise from relatives including Marlon Jackson, who remarked, “Watching the movie, sometimes we think we’re watching Michael up there, that’s how good he is.” La Toya Jackson called his portrayal “absolutely excellent” and said she forgot she was watching an actor rather than her brother.
However, some family members notably stayed away from the premiere, including Janet Jackson and Michael’s daughter, Paris Jackson, as well as the eldest sibling, Rebbie Jackson. Janet had previously requested not to be included in the film. La Toya explained, “She was asked and she kindly declined, so you have to respect her wishes.”
Paris Jackson shared last year that she provided feedback on an early version of the script but felt her input was ignored, leading her to step back from the project. She described the film as “sugar-coated” and said it caters to a segment of fans still living in a fantasy about her father. “The narrative is being controlled, and there’s a lot of inaccuracy, and there’s a lot of full blown lies,” she said, expressing her discomfort with the project.
Originally, the film was set to cover events beyond 1988, including the 1993 child molestation accusations against Michael and the ensuing investigation. However, legal restrictions stemming from a settlement with one accuser prevented any depiction or mention of that individual, forcing the filmmakers to rework the ending. This resulted in 22 days of reshoots costing an estimated $15-20 million.
Despite the mixed reviews, industry insiders have projected a strong box office debut, estimating a $65-70 million opening in the U.S. and aiming for $700 million worldwide.
Critics, though, have not been kind, labeling the film “boring” and “shallow,” with some singling out Colman Domingo’s portrayal of Joe Jackson as particularly disappointing. As the film prepares to hit theaters, the divide between family opinions and critical response continues to spark conversation around this controversial tribute to one of music’s most iconic figures.