{"id":593643,"date":"2026-04-19T12:54:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T12:54:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/593643\/"},"modified":"2026-04-19T12:54:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T12:54:08","slug":"jackson-legacy-on-the-line-as-michael-biopic-divides-the-family-once-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/593643\/","title":{"rendered":"Jackson legacy on the line as ‘Michael’ biopic divides the family once more"},"content":{"rendered":"

The new Michael Jackson biopic is an almost sure-fire hit, on track to make $60 million<\/a> when it opens next weekend.<\/p>\n

The movie\u2019s star, Michael\u2019s nephew Jaafar Jackson<\/a>, and his proud sons Prince and Bigi triumphantly appeared at the first two premieres in Berlin, Germany, and Gary, Indiana \u2014 helming the biggest project of their lives so far.<\/p>\n

However, a huge part of Michael Jackson\u2019s legacy, his only daughter, Paris, has been conspicuous by her absence<\/a>. Easily the most outspoken of her siblings, her silence has been deafening.<\/p>\n

Jaafar Jackson in a still from \u201cMichael\u201d recreating his uncle on his 1988 \u201cBad\u201d world tour. \u00a9Lions Gate\/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/p>\n

\u201cIn what should be a great time for this family, a time when everyone really gets a chance to not only rally around [ailing family matriarch] Katherine and the memory of Michael, but to celebrate Jaafar, there is still division,\u201d a family source told The Post. \u201cThere is still infighting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prince, 29, has a huge role behind the scenes in the biopic, titled \u201cMichael,\u201d as an executive producer, whereas Paris, 28, has stated she had \u201czero per cent involvement\u201d in the film beyond reading an early draft.<\/p>\n

She claimed she felt the movie was designed to appeal to \u201ca very specific section of my dad\u2019s fandom that still lives in the fantasy,\u201d rather than evaluating his often complex legacy<\/a>, so she \u201cbutted out and left it alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Jackson brothers pictured around 1970, with father Joe Jackson (center). From Left: Jackie, Tito, Marlon, Jermaine, Michael (center right), and Randy (in striped T-shirt). Michael Ochs Archives<\/p>\n

But long-time Jackson sources say the divisions \u2014 compounded by Paris taking legal action<\/a> against the Jackson estate executors, who are also financial backers of the movie \u2014 go back much further.<\/p>\n

On one side, three of the Jackson 5 family band which launched Michael\u2019s career: Jermaine, 71, Jackie, 74, and Marlon, 69, who all returned to Gary, their hometown, this week joined by their children and a packed crowd for the premiere. (Brother Tito, who was also a member of the group, died in 2024.) <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is where it all started for my family,\u201d Jaafar said. \u201cWithout this, I wouldn\u2019t be here.\u201d<\/p>\n

(L-R): Jackie, Jermaine and Jaafar Jackson and (bottom) Juliano Valdi at the Berlin premiere of \u201cMIichael\u201d on April 10. Getty Images for Universal Pictures<\/p>\n

On the other side <\/a>stand Randy and Janet Jackson, Michael\u2019s closest siblings in age. Randy, 64, didn\u2019t join The Jacksons until 1975 when Jermaine left, and there has been tension between them ever since.<\/p>\n

According to insiders, Janet and Randy are firmly aligned \u2014 and their influence has only deepened the divide.<\/p>\n

\u201cParis is being ridiculously stubborn and it\u2019s all become so personal to her,\u201d the source said. \u201cAnd she\u2019s listening to people like Janet and Randy \u2014 and that\u2019s where a lot of this reluctance to be a part of this is coming from.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jaafar as Michael in the recording studio in a scene from the biopic. \u00a9Lions Gate\/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/p>\n

Janet and Paris Jackson pictured at Paris fashion week in France last October. Both have been absent from the fanfare around \u201cMichael.\u201d GC Images<\/p>\n

Long considered the outlier in the family, Randy\u2019s strained relations are partly rooted in one of the most personal betrayals in Jackson family history \u2014 when Jermaine married Alejandra Oaziaza, the mother of two of Randy\u2019s children, Steven and Genevieve, in 1995.<\/p>\n

The fallout from the union between Jermaine and Alejandra shattered the brothers\u2019 relationship and created a lingering resentment that insiders say still shapes some of the family dynamic today.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs Randy the dark horse? Absolutely,\u201d one insider said. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of history there that never got resolved.\u201d<\/p>\n

Randy Jackson pictured at Janet Jackson\u2019s State of the World Tour afterparty in 2017. He keeps a much lower profile than most of the other members of the Jackson family. FilmMagic<\/p>\n

Jermaine Jackson and his second wife Alejandra Oaziaza in the UK in 2010. The couple are parents to Jaafar and Jermjesty, but split around 2004. PA Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Making things more complicated, Jaafar is one of the two boys, alongside Jermajesty, Oaziaza and Jermaine had together. Winning the lead role in the biopic instantly makes him the most famous member of the younger Jackson generation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are people in this family who feel like the legacy is being funneled in one direction,\u201d the insider said.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, after a screening of \u201cMichael,\u201d Janet \u2014 herself one of the best-selling solo artists of the 90s \u2014 confronted Jermaine, as The Post previously reported.<\/a> \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cShe had something negative to say about almost every scene,\u201d a source present at the movie said.<\/p>\n

Randy and Michael Jackson pictured together at a press conference in 1983 during their \u201cVictory\u201d tour with The Jacksons. Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are going to miss this wave,\u201d Jermaine is said to have replied to his sister, adding: \u201cYou are so jealous \u2014 just get on the wave.\u201d<\/p>\n

Insiders say Janet believes there\u2019s a measure of disrespect toward Michael\u2019s siblings \u2014 whose roles in the film don\u2019t have speaking parts<\/a>.\u00a0She is also said to have turned down any participation in the film, despite being offered a role.<\/p>\n

Randy and Janet also challenged the legitimacy of Michael\u2019s 2002 will, which led to the set-up of the estate as it is today, which is now worth around $2 billion<\/a> \u2014 and potentially set to increase further with \u201cMichael.\u201d<\/p>\n

(L-R) Donte Jackson, who was adopted into the Jackson family, with Genevieve Jackson and Steven, who goes by Randy Jackson Jr., at a family event in 2009. FilmMagic<\/p>\n

Michael \u2014 who tragically died of an accidental drug overdose in 2009 \u2014 deliberately left all of his siblings out of his will, leaving everything to his children, to be overseen by his lawyers. He also appointed his beloved mother, Katherine, now 95, to be legal guardian of his children.<\/p>\n

Despite her advanced age, Katherine remains the emotional center of the family \u2014 and, in many ways, the only thing holding it together.<\/p>\n

\u201cKatherine obviously doesn\u2019t have the sway she used to enjoy, but every now and again she\u2019ll give her children and her grandchildren that certain look and they follow along,\u201d a source said.<\/p>\n

Prince (left) and Bigi Jackson at the premiere of \u201cMichael\u201d in suits paying homage to their father in Berlin. Getty Images for Universal Pictures<\/p>\n

She has seen the film, and her reaction was deeply personal.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt one point she said, \u2018My Michael.\u2019 She misses him more than anyone but she had her moment with Jaafar where she\u2019s thanked him for \u2018giving us Michael again,\u2019 \u201d the source said.<\/p>\n

And while there has been strife among the original Jackson siblings, Randy\u2019s son Steven (who goes by Randy Jr.) was at the premieres, alongside many of the cousins who make up the next generation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s never been a doubt that the Jackson cousins have been closer than the Jackson siblings,\u201d a source said. \u201cAnd Paris loves Jaafar. Jaafar loves her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe elder Jackson siblings have always been dysfunctional and\u00a0never on the same page,\u201d the source added. \u201cBut their kids, the 35 or so cousins, have always had each other\u2019s back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Insiders say Jaafar isn\u2019t taking Paris\u2019 absence personally, and Prince and Bigi are trying to rise above it.<\/p>\n

Family matriach Katherine Jackson pictured in 2011. She is now, aged 95, largely confined to the family\u2019s Los Angeles-area compound, but has seen the new biopic, according to sources. Getty Images<\/p>\n

Michael Jackson performing in New Zealand in 1996. Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite what Prince and Bigi feel about her actions, they love her,\u201d a source said. \u201cThey are trying to avoid getting too involved.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, others warn of Katherine\u2019s advanced years<\/a> and wonder how things will end up in the future if Paris continues on her crusade against her own estate, and certain members of the family feel they are not being heard.<\/p>\n

\u201cGetting all [the family] on same page is just impossible. There is a big fear among some in the family that the siblings will drift further apart whenever Katherine does pass away. Right now, there is a level of civility because of her.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf Katherine totally understood what was\u00a0happening it would break her heart. This is supposed to be about Michael and about the Jacksons finally reclaiming that glory they haven\u2019t experienced since\u00a0long before he died.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut in this family,\u201d the source concluded, \u201cit\u2019s never been that simple.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The new Michael Jackson biopic is an almost sure-fire hit, on track to make $60 million when it…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":593644,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[57],"tags":[8198,236,88,97339,27355,40555,74286],"class_list":{"0":"post-593643","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-celebrities","8":"tag-berlin","9":"tag-celebrities","10":"tag-entertainment","11":"tag-janet-jackson","12":"tag-michael-jackson","13":"tag-paris-jackson","14":"tag-prince-jackson"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/593643","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=593643"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/593643\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/593644"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=593643"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=593643"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=593643"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}