LaToya Jackson has addressed why her sister Janet Jackson is not in the controversial new biopic about their late brother Michael.
Janet and Michael’s daughter Paris were both absent from Monday’s premiere of Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua. LaToya revealed on the red carpet that Janet turned down the opportunity to participate or be portrayed in the movie about the late superstar.
“I wish everybody was in the movie,” LaToya, 69, told Variety at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. “She was asked and she kindly declined so you have to respect her wishes.”
Michael, which was approved and financed by the late singer’s estate, follows the singer from becoming a household name during his childhood until the height of his fame in 1988 — which has sparked backlash as the film does not confront the child abuse allegations against him before his death in 2009, and opted instead to completely cut the claims out of the film.
The titular star is portrayed by Jaafar Jackson, the nephew of LaToya, Janet and Michael. His parents, Joe and Katherine Jackson, are played Colman Domingo and Nia Long. LaToya is played by Jessica Sula, and Juliano Valdi plays younger Michael.
LaToya went on to gush about her nephew’s performance in the movie, saying, “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.’”
Director Fuqua told Variety that it was important for him to involve the Jackson family in the film, saying, “You’re telling somebody’s life, you want to make sure that they’re happy.”
He added about Janet: “I have so much respect and love for Janet, but you know it’s OK. She’s supportive of Jaafar and that’s what matters.”
Janet is not the only family member who has stayed away from the biopic.
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While Michael’s son, Prince, served as an executive producer on the movie, his children Bigi and Paris were not involved in the film.
Amid her legal battle with her late father’s estate, Paris has publicly criticized the movie as inaccurate and she questioned the role of estate executor John Branca as an executive producer in the movie. She also rejected Domingo’s claim that she had any involvement in the film.
“A big section of the film panders to a very specific section of my dad’s fandom that still lives in the fantasy, and they’re gonna be happy with it,” Paris said in September. “The narrative is being controlled and there’s a lot of inaccuracy and there’s a lot of just full-blown lies. At the end of the day, that doesn’t really fly with me. Go enjoy it. Do whatever. Leave me out of it.”
Neither Paris nor Janet returned The Independent’s requests for comment.
