Michael Jackson’s estate has criticised Paris Jackson for speaking out against the upcoming biopic about the singer (Picture: River Callaway/WWD via Getty Images)
Paris Jackson has hit out at the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, branding it ‘dishonest’ and a ‘fantasy’ as her long-running dispute with the executors of her father’s estate escalates.
The 27-year-old has repeatedly criticised the film about Michael Jackson, which is due for release in April, arguing it presents a version of events she does not recognise.
She has said biopics in general are ‘Hollywood’ creations that are often ‘sold to you as real’ despite being filled with ‘inaccuracy’ and ‘full-blown lies.’
Paris has also taken aim at estate co-executors John Branca and John McClain, accusing them of mismanaging funds and lacking transparency since her father’s death in 2009.
She has claimed that estate money is being used to bankroll risky projects, including the reported $150 million biopic, which she described as a ‘botched production’ when facing them in court earlier this month, according to TMZ.
Among her criticisms, she questioned the decision to cast Miles Teller as Branca, suggesting it was an expensive choice with unclear commercial value.
Paris has been in a long-running feud with her father’s estate co-executors (Picture: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
She also pointed to reports of costly reshoots, arguing they may stem from production issues and legal constraints around previously filmed material.
She said: ‘…the estate has had to fund tens of millions of dollars in reshoots after the terms of a well-known settlement agreement prevented the production from using substantial amounts of footage already shot.’
The estate’s lawyers have strongly rejected her claims, calling them ‘without merit’ and accusing her of making ‘headline-grabbing’ allegations.
Paris Jackson was 11 years old when her father died (Picture: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images)
In a statement to TMZ,attorney Jonathan Steinsapir said Paris and her legal team were raising concerns that had already been addressed and were more focused on ‘media games’ than the facts.
He defended Branca and McClain’s track record, pointing to the estate’s transformation from significant debt into a multi-billion-dollar business.
He added that exploring a major film about Jackson’s life would be ‘irresponsible not to’ given the success of similar music biopics.
The biopic is set for release in April (Picture: Gary Gershoff/Getty Images)
Steinsapir said: ‘Ms Jackson has already received roughly $65 million in benefits and stands to inherit many hundreds of millions more.
‘This is from an estate that was $500 million in debt and facing bankruptcy at the time of Michael’s death, but was turned by the executors into a business generating billions in revenue.’
Paris has distanced herself entirely from the project, saying she reviewed an early draft of the script but felt her concerns were ignored: ‘Not my monkeys, not my circus,’ she wrote on social media at the time, making clear she has no involvement.
Actor Colman Domingo, 55, who is set to portray Michael’s father, Joe Jackson, in the film, spoke to People in September and suggested that Michael’s children had been supportive of the project.
Miles Teller is set to play Michael Jackson estate co-executor John Branca (Picture: Bryan Steffy/Getty Images)
‘[Michael’s kids Paris and Prince are] very much in support of our film,’ Domingo said. ‘I’m excited to be here at amfAR tonight with Paris. It feels like that’s a nice way for us to be together.’
He also claimed that Paris had been ‘very helpful’ during the process, describing Prince as ‘a man of the film.’
Paris, however, quickly took to social media to deny the comments.
‘@Kingofbingo don’t be telling people I was helpful on the set of a movie I had 0% involvement in lol that is so weird,’ she wrote on her Instagram Story on Tuesday, September 2.
She clarified that while she had read an early draft of the script, her role ended there: ‘I read one of the first drafts of the script and gave my thoughts on what was dishonest/didn’t sit right with me and when they didn’t address it I moved on with my life.
‘Not my monkeys not my circus. God bless and god speed.’
Michael Jackson, who died in 2009 at the age of 50, had a famously fraught relationship with his father, writing Joe Jackson out of his will before his death. Joe died in 2018.
Colman Domingo is set to play Michael’s father, Joe Jackson (Picture: Reuters)
Paris previously claimed Colman Domingo inaccurately said she’d been involved with the script (Picture: Instagram)
Domingo previously told People he intended to approach the role with complexity and nuance: ‘I want to find their humanity, I want to find their heart and their humor. It may go against public opinion sometimes, but I think that’s my responsibility to find the complex version of these people.’
The biopic — simply titled Michael — has faced years of delays. Producer Graham King first secured rights in 2019, but the project only gathered momentum after Michael’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, was cast to play the pop icon in 2023.
Paris’ brother, Prince, is supportive of the film and is serving as a producer.
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