While the late King of Pop may have made the headlines, Michael Jackson’s nephew, Jaafar, is currently embroiled in a family fight over the biopic ‘Michael‘. Even though the 29-year-old actor has received positive reviews for his resemblance to his uncle, it appears he is the only one who sees it that way.
A House Divided Over a “Fantasy” Legacy
While Jaafar’s grandmother, Katherine Jackson, has championed the casting, reportedly telling Jaafar, “thank you for giving us Michael again,” other corners of the family are less enthused. Paris Jackson has famously “butted out” of the production, stating she had “zero per cent involvement” because she felt the movie was designed to appeal to a “section of my dad’s fandom that still lives in the fantasy.”
The tension highlights a stark generational divide. While Michael’s son, Prince, serves as an executive producer, insiders claim Paris is listening to her uncles, Randy and Janet Jackson.
“Paris is being ridiculously stubborn and it’s all become so personal to her,” a family source told The New York Post, adding that “the elder Jackson siblings have always been dysfunctional and never on the same page.” Despite this, the “35 or so cousins” remain close, with Jaafar and Paris reportedly maintaining their personal bond despite the professional friction.
The Last Bridge to Unity
The film faces a gauntlet of legal and emotional scrutiny as it nears its premiere. Sources warn that the 95-year-old Katherine is the only reason a “level of civility” remains. “There is a big fear among some in the family that the siblings will drift further apart whenever Katherine does pass away,” an insider noted.
Ultimately, the biopic was intended to be a moment for the family to reclaim their glory. Instead, Jaafar is left navigating a minefield of “infighting” and unresolved history. As the source concluded: “In what should be a great time for this family… there is still division. In this family, it’s never been that simple.”