Janet Jackson has praised her nephew Jaafar Jackson for his portrayal of her late brother in the upcoming biopic Michael, despite reported tensions within the family following an early screening.
According to sources, Janet had no issue with Jaafar's performance as Michael Jackson, and spoke positively about the film while discussing it with her brother Jermaine Jackson.
Reports had suggested there was friction between the siblings after the screening, but sources say they "did not have a screaming match."
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The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua, is set for release on April 24 and charts Michael Jackson's rise to fame, from his early years with the Jackson 5 through to his global superstardom in the 1980s.
Jaafar, Jermaine's son, takes on the lead role, with Colman Domingo and Nia Long portraying Joe and Katherine Jackson, while Miles Teller plays music lawyer John Branca.
Several members of the Jackson family are closely involved in the production, with Jermaine, Tito Jackson, Jackie Jackson and Marlon Jackson all serving as executive producers. Janet, however, is not involved in the project and does not appear as a character in the film.
Jaafar has previously spoken about the support he has received from his family while taking on the role of the King of Pop, who died in 2009 at the age of 50.
However, the film's release has been overshadowed by ongoing controversy.
The project has reportedly undergone significant reshoots and script changes, with reports suggesting its original version included references to allegations made against Michael Jackson over the years. Those elements are said to have been removed from the final cut.
The singer faced multiple allegations during his lifetime, including a 1993 case that was settled out of court and a 2005 criminal trial in which he was acquitted of all charges.
More recently, claims were revisited in the 2019 documentary 'Leaving Neverland', which featured accounts from Wade Robson and James Safechuck. Both men are reportedly pursuing legal action related to their allegations.
The biopic has also prompted mixed reactions within the Jackson family.
Michael's daughter Paris Jackson has publicly distanced herself from the film, saying she had early input on the script but chose not to remain involved.
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"Not my monkeys, not my circus. God bless and godspeed," she wrote, adding that parts of the film "pander to a very specific section of my dad's fandom."
Meanwhile, Marlon Jackson has strongly supported Jaafar's performance, saying: "Jaafar is unbelievable… I'm watching the movie and sometimes I'm thinking I'm watching Michael up there, and I forget 'Oh, it's Jaafar.'"
Despite the mixed responses and limited promotion, anticipation remains high ahead of the film's release, with the project aiming to present a family-backed portrayal of one of the most influential figures in music history.
