The internet has been abuzz with speculations about why Janet Jackson was missing as a character from her brother Michael Jackson’s latest biopic, Michael, starring their nephew Jaafar Jackson in the titular role.
The King of Pop’s other sister, LaToya Jackson, shed light on the omission during a conversation with Variety on Monday night ahead of the film’s premiere at the Dolby Theater:
“I wish everybody were in the movie. She was asked and she kindly declined, so you have to respect her wishes.”
LaToya also praised Jaafar’s performance, calling it “absolutely fabulous.”
“I’m sure you’ve seen the movie and you know how wonderful he is, how we all forget and think that we’re watching Mike. It’s like, ‘Oh, I forgot this is Jaafar.’”
It is noteworthy that the Antoine Fuqua directorial had other members of the Jackson family, including Joe, played by Colman Domingo, Katherine, played by Nia Long, and LaToya herself, played by Jessica Sula.
Meanwhile, Antoine said of Janet:
“I have so much respect and love for Janet, but you know it’s okay. She’s supportive of Jaafar and that’s what matters.”
He added it was “very important” for him to have the whole Jackson family involved:
“You’re telling somebody’s life, you want to make sure that they’re happy,” he said.
Janet Jackson skipped the recent Los Angeles premiere, as did MJ’s daughter Paris.
Here’s why Janet Jackson is missing from his brother’s biopic
Singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress Janet Jackson, 49, has distanced herself from Michael. According to The Roots, MJ’s estate has invested in the film (including $15 million for reshoots), and his son Prince Jackson is the executive producer.
However, Janet Jackson has a contentious history with the estate. Not long after Michael Jackson’s death in June 2009, she co-wrote an open letter along with her siblings Jermaine, Randy, Tito (now deceased), and Rebbie, accusing MJ’s ex-attorney and co-executor of the estate, John Branca, of being involved in a “heartless pursuit of wealth, fame, and power” at the expense of the rest of their family.
Three years later, Janet and her siblings further accused the estate of fraud and abuse of their mother, Katherine Jackson.
Furthermore, the Any Time, Any Place artist shares a close relationship with her niece Paris Jackson, who has gone on record to criticize her father’s biopic. In an Instagram video post, Paris claimed the project has a “lot of inaccuracies” and “full-blown lies,” adding:
“The film panders to a very specific section of my dad’s fandom that still lives in the fantasy. And they’re going to be happy with it… The thing about these biopics is they’re… It’s Hollywood. It’s fantasyland, it’s not real. But it’s sold to you as real.”
Paris Jackson added:
“I really don’t like dishonesty. I spoke up, I wasn’t heard, I f**ked off, that’s it. Y’all are going to like the f**king movie, so just go watch, enjoy it, do whatever, leave me out of it.”
Meanwhile, TMZ exclusively reported in March that following an early screening for the family, Janet Jackson and her brother Jermaine Jackson (Jaafar’s dad) exchanged a heated phone call regarding the film. A source claimed that while the All For You singer was critical, Jermaine backed his son’s big debut.
Another insider told the outlet that Janet Jackson had “always been insanely jealous” of MJ and is apparently struggling with her career, making matters worse. The source further mentioned that Ms Jackson was the only sibling who was against the project and her boyfriend even lauded and said, “Now, that’s a movie!”
The two-hour movie revolves around Michael Jackson’s time with the Jackson 5 followed by his magnanimous rise to fame as a solo artist turned pop icon in the late 1980s. It hits the theaters on April 24.
While MJ’s other adult child, Bigi, isn’t all that involved, he accompanied Prince to the Berlin premiere.
Edited by Pallavi K