Kat Graham was cast as Diana Ross in Michael two years ago. But the day before the Michael Jackson biopic arrived in theaters, the actress confirmed her scenes had been cut from the film.
On Thursday, Graham shared a statement via an Instagram Story, saying her performance was removed for legal reasons.
“Ahead of the April 24 release of the Michael Jackson film, I want to share that certain legal considerations affected a few scenes, including the ones I filmed with an incredible cast,” the statement read.
“Unfortunately, those moments are no longer part of the final cut, though the team worked hard to preserve as much of the story as possible,” she continued.
In March 2024, Variety broke the news that Graham had been cast in the biopic, and she shared a screenshot of the article on social media.
“Grateful to play the legendary Diana Ross… directed by the great @AntoineFuqua,” the actress captioned the post. “I can’t wait for everyone to see this film and the brilliant performances in it. Thank you Graham King, Vickie Thomas and Mr. Fuqua for allowing me the privilege of supporting the retelling of such a pivotal era in our music history.”
Michael Jackson and Diana Ross were close friends and teamed up on multiple projects, including on the 1978 film, The Wiz.
But something happened and the Jackson estate was barred from including Ross’ likeness in Michael.
The film tells the story of the late King of Pop’s life “from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world,” according to the official description.
Jaafar Jackson, son of Jermaine Jackson, leads the cast as his late uncle. Other main cast members include Colman Domingo as the singer’s father, Joe Jackson. Nia Long plays his mother, Katherine Jackson.
Kendrick Sampson portrays producer Quincy Jones. Miles Teller plays Jackson’s business manager John Branca. Larenz Tate plays Motown founder Berry Gordy, and Laura Harrier portrays music executive Suzanne de Passe.
Critics say too much of Jackson’s story is missing from the film, including child molestation allegations made against the singer.
The drama, currently has a 40% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus of critics saying the movie plays more like a “greatest hits” album than an accurate portrayal of Jackson’s life. Michael is now playing in theaters nationwide.
Read Graham’s statement below:
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