A private screening of Michael, the upcoming biopic about the King of Pop, was supposed to be a moment of pride for the Jackson family. More than 60 relatives gathered in Los Angeles to watch the film together, and by most accounts the early part of the evening felt exactly like that. The room reportedly laughed, applauded and settled into the kind of warm collective energy that comes with watching a beloved story told on the big screen.
Then Janet Jackson started talking.
A critique that covered almost everything
According to reports, Janet grew increasingly vocal with her criticism as the film progressed, offering negative commentary on scene after scene. Her concerns reportedly ranged across multiple dimensions of the production, from the quality of the performances to the makeup design and even the physical movements of the actors portraying her family members. Those present described her as finding something to criticize in nearly every part of the film.
The atmosphere shifted noticeably. What had started as a celebration began to feel like a review, and not a generous one.
Jermaine Jackson stands up
The tension reached its peak when Jermaine Jackson, whose son Jaafar plays the lead role of Michael Jackson in the film, rose to confront his sister directly. In front of multiple family members, he pushed back against what he perceived as an effort to undermine a project that his son had poured himself into. His remarks were pointed and, by all accounts, unexpected in their directness.
He accused Janet of allowing jealousy to cloud her reaction and urged her not to position herself against something the rest of the family was celebrating. The confrontation stunned several of the younger relatives in the room, many of whom had never witnessed that kind of open conflict between two of the most prominent members of the Jackson family.
A family divided by a film
The clash between Janet and Jermaine reflects a broader complexity that has surrounded the Michael biopic since its development was announced. The film is a deeply personal project for those involved, particularly Jaafar, for whom the role represents not only a professional debut of enormous scale but also an intimate engagement with his uncle’s legacy.
Janet’s criticism, regardless of its merit, landed in a room where emotional stakes were unusually high. Jermaine’s reaction made clear that he saw her comments not merely as a creative opinion but as something more personal and more damaging.
Janet, 59, and Jermaine, 71, have long been figures in one of the most scrutinized families in entertainment history. Disagreements within the Jackson family are rarely simple, and this one appears to be no exception.
Paris Jackson also distances herself
The family screening confrontation is not the only source of friction surrounding the film. Paris Jackson, Michael’s daughter, had previously made clear that she was not involved in the production, pushing back against any suggestion that she had a connection to the project. Her comments added another layer to what has become an increasingly complicated public relationship between the biopic and the wider Jackson family circle.
Michael opens in wide release on April 24, with early IMAX screenings beginning April 22. Whatever divisions the film has stirred behind closed doors, the production is arriving with significant anticipation from the public, and the family drama surrounding it may only have added to that interest.
