The new Michael Jackson biopic is almost certain to be a hit, and is expected to gross $60 million at the box office when it opens next weekend.
The film’s stars, Michael’s nephew Jaafar Jackson and his proud sons Prince and Bigi, arrived in high spirits at the first two premieres in Berlin, Germany and Gary, Indiana, taking the helm of the biggest project of their lives to date.
However, Michael Jackson’s only daughter Paris, who is a big part of his legacy, was conspicuously absent. The most outspoken of her siblings, her silence was deafening.
“It’s supposed to be a great time for this family and a time for everyone to not only come together but really have an opportunity.” [ailing family matriarch] A family source told the Post: “While the memories of Katherine and Michael remain, they are still divided over celebrating Ja’far. There is still internal conflict.”
Prince, 29, has a big behind-the-scenes role as an executive producer on the biopic, titled Michael, but Paris, 28, said he had “zero percent” involvement in the film beyond reading early drafts.
She claimed that she “turned it down and left it alone” because she felt the film was designed to appeal to “a very specific segment of my father’s fandom that still lives in fantasy” rather than appreciating her father’s often complicated legacy.
But longtime Jackson associates say the rift has worsened after Paris took legal action against Jackson’s estate, which also financed the film.
Meanwhile, the three members of the Jackson 5 Family Band that launched Michael’s career, Jermaine, 71, Jackie, 74, and Marlon, 69, returned to their hometown of Gary this week and were joined by their children and a sold-out crowd for the premiere. (The Tito brothers, who were also members of the group, also passed away in 2024.)
“This is where it all started for my family,” Jaafar said. “If it wasn’t for this, I wouldn’t be here.”
On the other side stand Randy and Janet Jackson, the siblings closest to Michael in age. Randy, 64, did not join the Jacksons until 1975, when Jermaine left, and there had been tension between the two ever since.
Insiders say Janet and Randy have a strong bond, and their influence is only deepening their rift.
“Paris is incredibly stubborn and everything is very personal to her,” the source said. “And she’s listening to people like Janet and Randy. And that’s where a lot of the reluctance to get involved in this issue comes from.”
Long considered the outlier in the family, Randy’s strained relationship is partially rooted in the most personal betrayal in Jackson family history, when Jermaine married Alejandra Osiaza, the mother of Randy’s two children, Stephen and Genevieve, in 1995.
The fallout from Jermaine and Alejandra’s marriage fractured the brothers’ relationship, creating lingering resentment that insiders say still forms part of the family dynamic today.
“Is Randy a dark horse? Absolutely,” one source said. “There’s a lot of unresolved history there.”
To further complicate matters, Ja’far is one of the two boys Oasiaza and Jermaine spend time with, along with Jermajesty. By winning the lead role in the biopic, he quickly became the most famous member of Jackson’s younger generation.
“There are people in this family who feel their legacy is being funneled in one direction,” the source said.
Meanwhile, as The Post previously reported, Janet, herself one of the best-selling solo artists of the ’90s, confronted Jermaine after a screening of “Michael.”
“She had something negative to say about almost every scene,” said a source who saw the movie.
Germaine is said to have replied to her sister: “You’re going to miss this wave,” adding: “You’re going to miss this wave.”
Sources say Janet believes there is some kind of disdain for Michael’s brothers, who don’t have any speaking roles in the movie. She also reportedly declined to appear in the film despite being offered the role.
Randy and Janet also disputed the validity of Michael’s 2002 will, which led to the creation of the current estate, which is currently valued at approximately $2 billion, but could be worth much more with “Michael.”
Michael, who tragically died of a drug overdose in 2009, deliberately left all of his siblings behind against his will, leaving everything to his children under the supervision of his lawyer. He also appointed his beloved mother Catherine, now 95, as the children’s legal guardian.
Despite her advanced age, Catherine remains the spiritual center of the family and in many ways the only thing that holds the family together.
“Katherine obviously doesn’t have the rockers she used to enjoy, but every once in a while she gives that look to her kids and grandkids and they follow suit,” the source said.
She saw the movie, and her reaction was very personal.
“At one point, she said, ‘My Michael.’ She misses him more than anyone, but she spent time with Jaafar and thanked him for ‘giving her Michael again,'” the source said.
And although there was some bad blood between the original Jackson brothers, Randy’s son Stephen (also known as Randy Jr.) attended the premiere along with many of his cousins who made up the next generation.
A source said, “There is no question that Jackson’s cousins were closer than the Jackson brothers.” “And Paris loves Ja’far, and Ja’far loves her.
“The Jackson family has always been dysfunctional and never on the same page,” the source added. “But their children, about 35 cousins, have always cheered each other on.”
Sources say Jaafar doesn’t take Paris’ absence personally and that Prince and Bigi are trying to work through it.
A source said: “Prince and Bigi love her despite what they think of her actions.” “They try not to get too involved.”
But some in the family feel their voices are not being heard, with some warning of Catherine’s aging and worrying what the future holds if Paris continues to campaign against her estate.
“Get everything [the family] It’s just impossible to be on the same page. There is great concern within the family that each death of Catherine will drive the siblings further apart. For now, she has maintained some level of civility.
“If Katherine fully understood what was going on, it would break her heart. This is supposed to be a story about Michael and the Jackson family, who are finally restored to the glory they haven’t had since long before his death.
“But in this family, nothing was so simple,” the source concluded.
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