Jaafar Jackson has addressed claims Janet Jackson had a problem with Michael.
Jaafar, who stars as his late uncle Michael Jackson in the biopic, broke his silence on why his aunt was not portrayed in the film, in a new interview with GQ Middle East.
“I don’t want to speak too early, but Janet has ideas of maybe doing her own film. So having someone portrayed in this and then choosing a different actor for her own is just…” he said before cutting himself off.
Related: Michael Jackson’s Son Prince Says Critics Wanted ‘Michael’ to Flop
Jaafar’s comments came after La Toya Jackson said Janet was approached about being included in the authorized biopic but “declined.”
“I wish everybody was in the movie,” La Toya told Variety at the film’s Los Angeles premiere in April. “She was asked and she kindly declined, so you have to respect her wishes.”
While most of the Jackson family attended the L.A. premiere, Janet was absent and has not publicly promoted the film. Meanwhile, La Toya was portrayed by actress Jessica Sula.
Janet’s absence led to speculation on social media that there was bad blood between the “Control” singer and the filmmakers, especially after Michael’s daughter Paris Jackson went public online and described the story was “dishonest.”
“I read one of the first drafts of the script and gave my notes about what was dishonest — didn’t sit right with me, and when they didn’t address it, I moved on with my life. Not my monkeys, not my circus,” she said in a viral video.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) and produced by Graham King (Bohemian Rhapsody), Michael traces the music icon’s journey from his childhood in Gary, Indiana, with the Jackson 5 to becoming the biggest entertainer in the world.
The cast includes Colman Domingo and Nia Long as Joe and Katherine Jackson. Miles Teller plays Jackson’s business manager John Branca, Kendrick Sampson portrays Quincy Jones, Larenz Tate has a role as Motown founder Berry Gordy, and Laura Harrier plays music executive Suzanne de Passe. Juliano Valdi portrays Michael Jackson as a child.
The story ends in the late 1980s, leaving the most controversial years of his life for a planned sequel.
Jaafar told GQ the screenplay for the second film is currently in development. While he does not have a say in the writing, the actor said he hopes the sequel will explore what his uncle thought about on the sexual abuse allegations against him.
“I think the second film will give even more insight from his point of view, because at the end of the day, [the allegations] are always from someone else’s [perspective],” he said. “It’s someone else’s story. It’s someone else’s idea of what it is, and it’s mainly driven by an agenda.”
Critics slammed the film for glossing over the most controversial aspects of the superstar’s life. The biopic has a 38% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, despite becoming a massive global hit.
“Jaafar Jackson is a star. But the movie itself is uncomfortably problematic in a way that’s hard to overlook,” wrote Katie Walsh of Tribune News Service.
Cary Darling of the Houston Chronicle said the film “is not a thriller.”
Released on April 24, the film is one of the highest grossing movies of the year after earning $1.01 billion worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.
Michael made its streaming debut on Starz Aug. 10.
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