Paris Jackson isn’t holding back.
The daughter of Michael Jackson is once again clashing with the Estate, this time over the much-hyped biopic Michael. While legal tensions between Paris and executors John Branca and John McClain have been simmering for years, things just escalated with Paris zeroing in on the film’s creative (and financial) decisions.
Paris made it known she wishes the project well, but said “that does not change potential concerns” she has with the Estate’s involvement. One decision in particular stood out, Branca casting Miles Teller to portray himself. Paris questioned the logic, calling it “unclear how this peculiar and presumably costly casting decision will result in commensurate box office receipts.”
We’ve been side-eyeing that choice since it was announced in 2024. And we’re still not convinced.
Paris also pointed to what she described as Branca’s lack of film production experience, suggesting it “may be the root of reports that the estate has had to fund tens of millions of dollars in reshoots.” According to her, a settlement agreement reportedly prevented large portions of already-shot footage from being used, raising concerns about what she called a “botched production on a” 3.5-hour biopic with a reported $150 million budget. “Troubling, to say the least,” she added.
Beyond the film, Paris also questioned how Estate funds are being handled, alleging risky investments and highlighting that the executors earned $7.9 million in 2021 alone, totaling over $148 million since 2009.
The Estate’s legal team? Not impressed.
They fired back, saying Paris and her lawyers have “either not been paying attention over the past several years or simply want to object for objections’ sake.” They also accused her camp of “playing media games by making headline-grabbing, yet false, accusations.”
On the production front, they dismissed her criticism entirely, insisting Branca’s experience speaks for itself. “Those efforts have been wildly successful,” the lawyer said, referencing past projects including Cirque du Soleil shows (which was already in talk with Michael himself before the Estate involvement), a record-breaking concert documentary, and a hit Broadway production. And yet, no comments on the fact that Branca will be portraited by an A-lister actor.
As for the biopic’s budget and scope, the Estate doubled down: it would be “irresponsible not to explore a major motion picture based on Michael Jackson’s life,” especially after the success of Bohemian Rhapsody.
They also claimed Paris was invited to discuss the project but never followed through due to NDA negotiations.
Attorney Jonathan Steinsapir went further, stating: “Ms. Jackson and her attorneys are once again abusing the courts and the legal system by making a series of false allegations as part of a media campaign to distract from their legal setbacks and the inherent weakness of their case.”
He continued: “The vast majority of her ‘claims’ have been either approved by her legal team or by the court… Others are based on false or misleading information.”
Steinsapir also emphasized: “The executors have been meticulous and conscientious in every decision that they have made,” adding that Paris has already received “roughly $65 million” and stands to inherit far more.
Still, this raises a bigger question, one fans have been quietly asking for a while now:
Is this just another attempt to shut down anyone who questions or criticizes the Estate’s creative decisions?