Colman Domingo, who plays Joe Jackson in the new Michael Jackson biopic, has defended the film against claims it 'whitewashes' abuse allegations against the late singer. The film, which has been widely panned by critics, arrives in cinemas this weekend after years of production delays.
Last-minute edits removed scenes addressing the first child abuse allegations from 1993, after lawyers determined that including them would breach the settlement agreement. The case was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum, believed to be as high as $30 million.
Speaking on the US talkshow Today, Domingo said: 'The film takes place from the '60s to 1988, so it does not go into the first allegations in, what, 2005? Basically, we centre it on the makings of Michael. It's an intimate portrait of who Michael is.' He added that the story is told 'through his eyes' and hinted at a possible sequel covering later events.
Domingo has conducted few promotional engagements for the film. When he previously claimed that Jackson's children Paris and Prince supported the project, Paris publicly contradicted him on social media, stating she had no involvement and that the production ignored her notes about inaccuracies.
The Independent's film critic Clarisse Loughrey awarded the biopic one star, calling it a 'ghoulish, soulless cash grab' that merely recreates Jackson's famous visuals in mechanical fashion.
