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Paris Jackson and her aunt Janet Jackson delivered a stunning absence from the Los Angeles premiere of the Michael biopic. The event Monday night exposed a deeper family rift over how the film portrays the King of Pop’s legacy.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Premiere Date: Monday, April 21, 2026 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood
- Film Release: April 24, 2026 in theaters nationwide with Lionsgate distribution
- Star Cast: Jaafar Jackson plays Michael, Colman Domingo portrays Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson
- Director: Antoine Fuqua brings the biopic to life, chronicling Michael’s early life through 1988
A Notable Jackson Family Split Erupts
The Michael Jackson film’s most striking absence came from two of the family’s most prominent voices. Paris Jackson, 28, and her aunt Janet Jackson, 59, both declined to attend the Hollywood gala despite their unique connections to the material.
Meanwhile, Jermaine Jackson, La Toya Jackson, Marlon Jackson, and Jackie Jackson all stepped out to celebrate Jaafar Jackson‘s breakout performance. Prince Jackson, 29, Michael’s eldest son and an executive producer, also graced the red carpet, signaling the family’s divided stance on the projectapproach.
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Why Janet Turned Down the Film
Janet Jackson declined to be portrayed in the biopic and reportedly asked to be left out entirely. At the premiere, her brother La Toya Jackson revealed the reason, stating on the red carpet: “She was asked and she kindly declined, so you have to respect her wishes.”
Director Antoine Fuqua, however, expressed his disappointment. “I would have loved for Janet Jackson to have been in the film,” he told Variety at the Dolby Theatre. “I have so much respect and love for her.” The absence underscores the tension surrounding how accurately or sympathetically the biopic handles the Jackson family narrative.
Paris Jackson’s Harsh Criticism Surfaces
Paris Jackson has publicly criticized the film multiple times, describing it as a “sugar-coated” fantasy. “The narrative is being controlled, and there’s a lot of inaccuracy, and there’s a lot of full blown lies,” she said on social media. She remains vocal about her reservations regarding the project’s depiction of her father’s life.
| Film Detail | Information |
| Release Date | Friday, April 24, 2026 |
| Studio | Lionsgate Pictures |
| Time Period Covered | 1960s through 1988 |
| Runtime | 2 hours, 7 minutes |
Paris posted on Instagram in September 2025: “I read one of the first drafts of the script and gave my thoughts on what was dishonest or didn’t sit right with me.” When the filmmakers didn’t incorporate her feedback, she distanced herself from the project entirely.
“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. The narrative is being controlled, and there’s a lot of inaccuracy and there’s a lot of full blown lies.”
— Paris Jackson, Michael Jackson’s daughter
Family Tension Over the Biopic’s Direction
Reports from earlier this month suggested Janet Jackson clashed with her brother Jermaine at a private family screening, taking issue with nearly every scene. According to sources at that screening, Janet critiqued the acting, makeup, dialogue, and even how actors moved on screen. Jermaine allegedly countered that she’d “miss the wave” if she didn’t support the project.
The film’s narrative avoids exploring Michael Jackson‘s sexual abuse allegations. According to reports, the Michael Jackson estate discovered a legal contract preventing dramatization of the infamous Chandler case from 1993, forcing substantial rewrites. The final cut concludes in 1988, before these controversies emerged, leaving room for a potential sequel.
Will the Michael Jackson Biopic Satisfy Family Members or Divide Them Further?
The premiere’s most telling moment wasn’t what happened on screen, but who wasn’t in the room. Paris Jackson and Janet Jackson‘s joint absence sends a powerful message about the family’s discord surrounding this film.
Colman Domingo defended the project’s approach on the “Today” show, saying the film focuses purely on Michael‘s journey as an artist and his family dynamics. Yet with two of the family’s most prominent voices sitting this out, the real story may be the one playing out behind closed doors, not on the silver screen.
Sources
- Los Angeles Times – Reporting on Janet Jackson and Paris Jackson skipping the premiere and the controversy surrounding sexual abuse claims exclusion
- Us Weekly – Comprehensive coverage of family members present and absent from the Hollywood event
- Variety – Director Antoine Fuqua and actor statements regarding the film’s scope and family involvement
