Michael Jackson Biopic Celebrates Musical Legacy While Ignoring Controversy
Michael Jackson, the undisputed King of Pop, transformed contemporary R&B and revolutionised the music video, turning a promotional tool into critically acclaimed art. He gifted the world Billie Jean, Beat It, and Thriller, reinventing himself with the leather-clad Bad era, and delivered iconic moments like Motown '25 and the legendary Moonwalk. Now, seventeen years after his death, a new biopic directed by Antoine Fuqua, titled Michael, documents his turbulent childhood, vibrant early years with the Jackson 5, and subsequent solo success.
Released in cinemas across the United States and United Kingdom from April 24, the film is a subjective two-hour celebration of Jackson's incredible highs, starring Jaafar Jackson, Jermaine Jackson's son, as the pop legend. However, for the critically minded, it represents a missed opportunity to address the unsavoury allegations of child abuse that shadowed Jackson for the last two decades of his life, until his untimely death at a rented Los Angeles mansion in 2009.
The Family Members and Associates Featured in the Biopic
This somewhat sanitised rendering of Jackson's colourful life and career raises questions about the fate of his family members, friends, and business associates. Here is what became of them.
Joe Jackson: The Imposing Patriarch
No one impacted Jackson's life quite like his father, Joe Jackson. An imposing figure, Joe was instrumental in the global success of the Jackson 5 and played an indirect role in how Michael perceived himself as he entered adulthood, embarked on a solo career, and underwent a physical metamorphosis that turned him into a social enigma.
Following his son's death, Joe managed the Jackson estate and was inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame in 2011. In 2014, he accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award on Michael's behalf at the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame. In his early 80s at the time of Jackson's death, Joe suffered declining health, including a stroke and heart arrhythmia while celebrating his 87th birthday in Brazil. He died in Las Vegas on June 22, 2018, after a battle with pancreatic cancer, and is interred at Forest Lawn in Los Angeles, the same cemetery as his son.
Katherine Jackson: The Unwavering Matriarch
The unwavering family matriarch, Katherine Jackson maintained a close relationship with her son throughout his turbulent life. Jackson dedicated his iconic 1982 album Thriller to her, and younger sister Janet followed suit with her 1989 album Rhythm Nation 1814.
After Jackson's death, Katherine took guardianship of his three children: Prince Michael, Paris, and Bigi, then known as Blanket. In 2012, her guardianship was temporarily suspended when she failed to communicate with the children for over a week, later revealed to be due to a visit to a health spa in Arizona. Guardianship was returned to Katherine and her grandson, TJ Jackson, but she passed the role to TJ full-time in 2017, citing her advanced age and the children's adulthood. Now 95, Katherine lives in Calabasas, California, with TJ and his family.
Jermaine Jackson: Staunch Supporter and Controversial Figure
Jermaine Jackson found fame with the Jackson 5 in the early 1970s, but his solo career never matched his younger brother's commercial highs. He was a staunch supporter during Michael's 2005 criminal prosecution for alleged sexual abuse and confirmed Michael's death in a press conference outside Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in 2009.
Jermaine served as a pallbearer at Jackson's memorial and converted to Islam in 1989. He has seven children from three marriages, including his first to Hazel Gordy, daughter of Motown founder Berry Gordy, which ended in 1988. In 2023, he was accused of historic sexual assault by former music contractor Rita Barrett, alleging sexual assault, battery, abuse, rape, and negligence. Jermaine has yet to respond to these allegations.
Tito Jackson: Outspoken Supporter and Blues Guitarist
A prominent member of the Jackson 5, Tito Jackson was an outspoken supporter of his brother against multiple sexual abuse allegations. While Michael enjoyed success in the 1980s and '90s, Tito embarked on a solo career as a blues guitarist in 2003, releasing his debut album Tito Time in 2016.
He had three sons from his first marriage to Delores "Dee Dee" Martes and married Japanese videographer Mizuki Matsui in 2020, welcoming daughter Tariana Katherine that year. Tragically, Tito suffered a fatal heart attack in 2024 while transporting his brother's vintage cars from California to Oklahoma. He was 70 and is buried near his father and brother at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale.
Marlon Jackson: From Music to Real Estate and Philanthropy
While not the most prominent Jackson 5 member, Marlon Jackson provided backing vocals and percussion. His solo career began with the 1988 album Baby Tonight, a number 22 hit on the US R&B Chart, but he soon turned to pursuits away from showbusiness.
He established himself as a successful realtor and helped launch the religious network The Major Broadcasting Corporation in 1999, later renamed the Black Family Channel, which was sold to the Gospel Music Channel. As of 2015, Marlon fronts the Study Peace Foundation, promoting peace and unity in global communities.
Jackie Jackson: Limited Solo Success and Business Ventures
Born Sigmund Esco Jackson, Jackie began his solo career in 1973 while still in the Jackson 5, but it was restricted to two albums, with his last, Be The One, released in 1989. He found greater success with record companies Jesco Records and Futurist Entertainment, launched in 2002.
A father of four from three marriages, Jackie faced a restraining order from his first wife, Enid Spann, who alleged physical abuse after their 1986 divorce. He welcomed twin boys with his third wife, Emily Besselink, in 2013.
La Toya Jackson: Career Pivot to Reality TV
The fifth child of Katherine and Joe Jackson, La Toya Jackson's career pivoted away from music after her final album in 1995. She had moderate success in the 1980s and '90s but saw her career decline under the management of her then-husband, Jack Gordon, whom she married in 1989.
La Toya alleged physical abuse and coercive behaviour, claiming Gordon scripted public statements, including allegations against her father and brother Michael. She divorced Gordon in 1997 and obtained a permanent restraining order. In recent years, she has appeared on reality shows like The Celebrity Apprentice and The Masked Singer.
Quincy Jones: Pivotal Producer and Legal Battles
A pivotal figure in Michael Jackson's professional life, Quincy Jones produced the albums that cemented his status: Off The Wall, Thriller, and Bad. Jones, a successful jazz musician, met Jackson in 1978 while working on The Wiz.
Their productive relationship ended in acrimony over royalties and credits, with Jones suing the Jackson estate for denied royalties on posthumous productions like the 2009 documentary This Is It. He was awarded $9.4 million in 2017, reduced on appeal. Jones died of pancreatic cancer at his Beverly Hills home in November 2024, aged 91.
Berry Gordy: Motown Founder and Hitmaker
The founder of Motown Records, Berry Gordy signed the Jackson 5 in 1968 and co-wrote some of their biggest hits, including ABC and I Want You Back. His influence was crucial in launching the group's early success and shaping the sound that propelled Michael Jackson to stardom.
