Michael Jackson‘s family is at odds again, and this time, it’s even more heated.
The late King of Pop’s siblings are not seeing eye to eye on the biopic “Michael,” and the possible reason for their feud is over the top. The biopic is set to premiere on screens on Friday, April 24, 2026; this release has been postponed three times since its initial announcement.
Michael Jackson’s whole family has chipped in one way or another to make this project a success. His nephew, Jaafar, has also received exceptional praise for his portrayal of the iconic singer after the trailer made headlines.
Michael Jackson’s Family Reportedly Riddled With Envy
It’s Janet Jackson against her brother Jermaine and the other members of the Jackson clan. The family is reportedly at odds over the biopic “Michael,” and this time, the reason for the heated battle is jaw-dropping. Sources close to the family told TMZ that the seed of envy is the source of the discord among the family members.
They shared that the Jackson siblings lashed out at each other during a phone call as the family was getting together in Los Angeles to screen the movie last week before its release. The biopic is scheduled to be in theaters before the end of next month. According to the sources, Janet and Jermaine had totally opposite views on the film.
While Janet was very critical of the movie, her brother loudly applauded the work done on the project. Jermaine’s son, Jaafar, stars as his late uncle, Michael, in the movie; however, their issues extend beyond their views on the film. The source claims that “Janet’s always been insanely jealous of Michael, and her career is in the toilet.”
Janet Jackson Is The Only One With An Opposing View On The Movie
While every other member of the Jackson tribe cheered gleefully for the film, Janet was the only one reportedly with sour feelings after the family’s preview. Even Janet’s boyfriend reportedly cheered and said, “Now that’s a movie.”
Other members of the family, including the matriarch Katherine Jackson, loved the show, leaving out the second most successful Jackson on the other side of the fence with her critics. The sensational singer also did not have a hand in the production of the biopic.
As the movie was produced by the Michael Jackson Estate, Janet was offered an opportunity to be featured in the show and even participate in the production, but she declined. Her decision leaves her totally left out of the script despite her real-life close relationship with her late brother.
‘Michael’ Will Finally Hit Screens Next Month
The film has fans filled with anticipation, especially after the trailer made headlines. The production and release schedule of the project has faced several hurdles, which led to the shifting of the release date three times. The biopic’s premiere was initially rescheduled from April 2025 to October 2025, and then to April 24, 2026. As reported by The Blast, the dreams of fans to finally see the movie on IMAX screens will come true next month.
A plethora of reasons caused the delays, the first being the length of the movie. Producers wanted “Michael” to be as detailed as possible, covering many aspects of the legend’s life and career. For this reason, it had to be split into two movies. There was a first cut in excess of 3½ hours, which also featured the second reason for postponement.
There was also the issue of referencing Jordan Chandler, who had accused Michael of molestation at 13, an allegation the late singer did not admit to, but settled the case for $20 million. After production was complete, it came to light that Chandler had an agreement that stopped him from being featured in the film, and producers were forced to edit those parts out.
Is Janet Actually Envious Of Her Late Brother?
Janet and Michael notably shared a strong sibling bond, and like her older brother, she rose to fame for her undeniable talents, breaking gender and racial barriers in the music industry. While the recent claims of envy being the fuel behind her recent conflict with her family, her past actions prove otherwise.
Last year, Janet made headlines because she was faced with offers to shoot her own biopic and tell the story of her life and career, but she reportedly turned down all the offers. Her stance is that she wants her late brother’s biopic to enjoy the spotlight before her. The Blast reported that her decision stemmed from her desire to allow her family to focus solely on Michael and relive their favorite memories.
“Janet is holding off on any career retrospective project of her own for the time being out of respect for the rest of her family,” an insider explained. They added that the 59-year-old did not want to take away the shine from her brother or loved ones, “including her niece and nephews, who control Michael Jackson’s estate.”
Michael Jackson’s Nephew Might Have His Industry Big Break With The Biopic
Jaafar, who plays the late singer in the movie, has received thunderous praise from online viewers and industry figures based on the glimpse they’ve seen of him in the trailer. The young star’s role in the film marks his professional acting debut, and fans are chanting that this will be the first of many for Jaafar.
As shared by The Blast, the two-minute trailer uploaded to YouTube last month quickly reached millions of views, and the comments were flooded with compliments for the late singer’s nephew. Many online users also pointed out how much Jaafar embodied the role and personality of his uncle. “The way he moves… that is genetic memory,” the user wrote.
“You can’t teach that level of precision. We are witnessing a resurrection,” a user commented. Even members of the production crew have noted the uncanny resemblance between Michael and his nephew. Director Antoine Fuqua stated that the two men sing and even dance alike.
Will peace finally reign among Michael Jackson’s family members?
