Jaafar Jackson hopes sequel addresses allegations from Michael’s perspective
Developed over time first seen 2 months ago
Jaafar Jackson, who portrayed his uncle Michael Jackson in the biopic "Michael", has said he hopes the planned sequel will give "more insight" into the child sexual abuse allegations levelled against the singer, this time from Michael's own perspective. Speaking to GQ Middle East, he argued that existing accounts of the allegations come from "someone else's" point of view and are "mainly driven by an agenda", adding that the Jackson family has long felt Michael's own voice has gone unheard, particularly in his later years.
The first film became the highest-grossing music biopic ever despite the controversy surrounding its subject, and ends in 1987 with the release of "Bad" after a clause in Jackson's $20 million settlement with a 1993 accuser forced producers to scrap a planned third act and rewrite and reshoot the ending. With the sequel's script still in development, it remains unclear whether it will address the 1993 allegations, tackle other accusations such as those aired in the documentary "Leaving Neverland", or sidestep the abuse claims altogether to focus on the later part of Michael's career. Jaafar said the first film showed Michael's roots and character before fame, and that he hopes the follow-up will finally tell "Michael's story from the point of view of himself".
- Jaafar Jackson wants "Michael" sequel to show uncle's own perspective on abuse claims
- He says past accounts came from accusers, "driven by an agenda"
- Sequel script still in development; unclear which allegations it will cover
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Michael Jackson has faced long-standing allegations of child sexual abuse, most notably a 1993 accusation that was settled privately for around $20 million, and later claims aired in the 2019 documentary "Leaving Neverland". These allegations have shadowed his legacy since his death in 2009 and remain a source of dispute between his supporters, including his family, and his accusers.
A biopic called "Michael" was made about his life, starring his nephew Jaafar Jackson in the lead role. It became the highest-grossing music biopic ever, despite the controversy surrounding its subject, but it ends its story in 1987 and does not tackle the abuse allegations, partly because of a clause in the 1993 settlement that limited how that period could be depicted.
A sequel is now in early development, and Jaafar Jackson has spoken publicly about wanting it to give Michael's own perspective on the allegations. The Jackson family has often argued that existing accounts are one-sided, making this an ongoing point of tension between how the singer's life is portrayed on screen and how his accusers say events unfolded.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of including Michael Jackson's perspective argue that fair biographical storytelling requires presenting all sides of contested narratives, especially regarding someone's own life. They contend that his voice has been excluded from recent discourse about the allegations, whilst existing accounts come primarily from accusers and documentaries presenting one perspective. They believe audiences are capable of evaluating different accounts and deserve to hear from the subject himself, and that biographical completeness requires understanding how Jackson experienced and responded to these allegations.
The case against
Critics raise serious concerns about power imbalances and the risks of prioritising dramatic narrative over survivor protection. They argue that using a major film platform to present the perspective of someone accused of child sexual abuse risks minimising accusers' experiences and could serve as a vehicle for discrediting them. They question whether a dramatised film is an appropriate medium for re-litigating allegations of child abuse, and contend that biographical completeness should not come at the cost of platforming narratives that may undermine survivors of alleged abuse.
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Originally published by Rolling Stone as “Jaafar Jackson Hopes ‘Michael’ Sequel Will Give ‘More Insight’ Into Allegations From Singer’s ‘Point of View’”.