Michael Jackson’s nephew claps back at ‘Michael’ critics

The nephew of Michael Jackson has criticised media coverage of the forthcoming biopic, Michael, which is base on the life of the musician, saying they don’t “get to control the narrative anymore.”

Taj Jackson, who is the son of the late pop star’s brother Tito Jackson, wrote in a post on X, “Sorry media, u don’t get to control the narrative anymore of who Michael Jackson truly was. The public gets to watch this movie, they will decide for themselves. And you can’t handle that.”

In a follow-up post, he added, “Can’t wait till some critics have to eat crow. And yes I will be that petty.”

His statement comes days before the release of the Antoine Fuqua-directed biopic Michael, starring Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson in his feature debut as the singer, alongside Colman Domingo as his father Joe Jackson and Nia Long as his mother Katherine.

Michael mostly received largely negative reviews ahead of its release and holds a 36 per cent critic approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of publishing.

Michael, which was approved and financed by the late pop singer’s estate, follows Jackson from his early years in the Jackson 5 to his solo stardom in 1988, when he was touring the album Bad.

The choice to conclude the story at that stage has prompted backlash, as the film does not engage with the child sexual abuse allegations made against him before his death in 2009 and instead leaves them out altogether.

Michael Jackson denied all the claims made against him in his entire lifetime.