Janet Jackson Didn’t Feature In Michael Jackson’s Biopic Despite Their Bond, Real Reason Revealed

Michael Jackson’s biopic, Michael, is all set to arrive in theatres on April 24, 2026. The upcoming drama, directed by Antoine Fuqua, features Michael’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, playing the lead role of the iconic star. The film follows Michael Jackson’s life and career from 1966 to 1988, focusing on his early days and many other aspects of his life.

Why didn’t Janet Jackson feature in Michael?

The upcoming biopic features Michael’s sister, La Toya Jackson, with Jessica Sula portraying her. However, his younger sibling, Janet Jackson, is absent. Despite her close bond with Michael, Janet didn’t feature in the film, which was quite strange for the pop icon’s fans. While attending the premiere of the film, La Toya revealed the real reason behind Janet’s absence and said:

“I wish everybody was in the movie. [Janet] was asked and she kindly declined, so you have to respect her wishes.”

Michael features the late King of Pop’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson in the lead role. For the unversed, Jaafar is the son of Michael’s sibling, Jermaine Jackson. Colman Domingo plays Michael’s father, ‘Joe Jackson’, and Nia Long stars as his mother, Katherine. While Jessica Sula plays La Toya, Juliano Valdi portrays a younger version of Michael.

Did Janet Jackson criticise the biopic?

After the private family screening of the biopic, Michael, there were reports of an alleged argument among the Jackson siblings. According to Globe, Janet Jackson, 59, openly criticised the biopic, stating, “No! This is horrible. They are doing a disservice.” But Michael’s sibling, Jermaine, requested Janet’s support for the sake of their family’s legacy.

On the other hand, Michael’s daughter, Paris Jackson, also didn’t approve of the biopic, calling it sugarcoated. Not just this, Paris also accused the filmmakers of inaccurately moulding the facts. Earlier, TMZ reported that Paris Jackson had said she had sent notes on the early draft of the script, but they were ignored. Criticising the film, Paris said:

“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.”

Jaafar Jackson stands apart with his portrayal of Michael Jackson

Michael is based on the life of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop. The early reviews of the film are out and point to a familiar pattern often seen in music biopics. However, critics are impressed by Jaafar Jackson’s portrayal of his uncle, Michael Jackson. The 29-year-old delivered a splendid performance and was loved for his effortless play. LaToya praised Jaafar’s performance in the film and said:

“Oh my gosh, I have to tell you that Jaafar was 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’.”

Many of Michael Jackson’s family members attended the premiere and have been very supportive of the movie. Though his daughter, Paris, was missing, the singer’s sons Prince and Bigi stepped out. In fact, Prince and several other family members even serve as executive producers on the film.

What do you think about Janet Jackson’s absence from the biopic, Michael?

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