A video of a fan moonwalking during a screening of the Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael' has sparked a debate about cinema etiquette. The clip, posted on X by @Mari___lord, shows an unidentified audience member leaping to his feet and dancing in front of the screen during a performance of 'Bad' by Jaafar Jackson, the late singer's nephew. The impromptu performance was met with cheers from some attendees but has drawn criticism online.
Many social media users expressed outrage, arguing that the behaviour ruined the experience for others. 'This is why people don’t go to movies anymore,' wrote Jaxon Mouser. Terrence Ford added: 'I paid to watch the movie, not your a**. Do this at home on your own time.' However, some defended the fan, with Tanya noting it happened at the end of the film, and Felo Dibakoane saying: 'He is having fun, love to see it.'
The incident echoes last year's 'Chicken jockey' trend during screenings of 'A Minecraft Movie', which prompted cinemas to warn against disruptive behaviour. 'Michael', directed by Antoine Fuqua, charts the singer's life from childhood to the late 1980s but controversially omits the child molestation allegations that overshadowed his later years. The Jackson estate, a producer on the film, reportedly forced reshoots costing up to $50 million after a clause in a settlement with accuser Jordan Chandler prohibited his mention.
Despite poor critical reviews—Metro's two-star review called it 'deep as a puddle'—the film has a 96% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is expected to be a box office success. It stars Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller, Mike Myers and Juliano Valdi.
