Spike Lee has defended the new Michael Jackson biopic against criticism for its omission of the child sexual abuse allegations against the late singer, claiming that chapter of his life “doesn’t work in the timeline of the film.”
Film Overview and Controversy
The film, titled Michael, stars the hitmaker’s real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop, and charts his life from being in the Jackson 5 in the 1960s to his early solo career. Despite breaking box office records, the movie has sparked backlash over the producers’ decision to leave out the abuse allegations, which began in 1993 and plagued Michael late in his career and even after his death in 2009.
However, director Spike Lee, 69, has defended the film—which he said he had already seen twice and “loves”—insisting that the abuse accusations were not included because it only documents Michael’s life up until 1988, before the first allegation was made.
“First of all, if you’re a movie critic, and you’re complaining about all this other stuff, but the movie ends in ’88,” the Oscar winner told CNN. “And the stuff you’re talking about, accusations, happened [later]. So you’re critiquing the film on something that you want in, but it doesn’t work in the timeline of the film.”
Box Office Success and Justification
Lee suggested that the film’s strong box office performance further justified the omission, adding: “But people showed up. Worldwide, people showed their love.” The biopic earned $30 million over projections, surpassing Oppenheimer’s $80 million opening in 2023, and became Lionsgate’s best debut since the pandemic.
Lee was a long-time friend and collaborator of Michael, having directed the 1996 music video for “They Don’t Care About Us” and two documentaries about the late star—Bad 25 (2012) and Michael Jackson’s Journey from Motown to Off the Wall (2016). Reflecting on his relationship with the “Billie Jean” star and fellow late singer Prince, he said: “I miss Mike. I miss Prince. I mean, these are my brothers. I worked with both of them. Both beautiful, beautiful people.”
Background of Allegations
Michael’s career and legacy became clouded by rumours of paedophilia beginning in 1993, when he was accused of sexually abusing 13-year-old Jordan Chandler in a lawsuit filed by the boy’s father. A criminal investigation found no physical evidence of abuse, but Michael ultimately settled the civil suit with the family in January 1994 for $23 million. He later faced further allegations, as well as a high-profile criminal trial on child molestation charges involving 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo in 2005, of which he was acquitted. The “Thriller” star died in 2009 aged 50 of a cardiac arrest after being administered Propofol as a sleep aid. His legacy fell under renewed scrutiny in recent years due to the ongoing molestation claims, reignited by Wade Robson and James Safechuck in the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland. Leaving Neverland 2 was released last year, featuring the pair’s ongoing legal battle.
Production Decisions and Family Reactions
Regarding his “approach” to the biopic, director Antoine Fuqua previously said: “Just to tell the facts as we know it, about the artist, about the man, about the human being. You know, the good, bad, and the ugly.” The movie premiered a year later than planned, arriving in cinemas last month, after an initial release date of April 2025. Producer Graham King and Lionsgate forced major production delays when they decided to scrap any mention of the abuse allegations. Originally, the film did address the 1993 allegations, but lawyers for Jackson’s estate pushed back by citing a clause in the settlement agreement that “precluded any depiction or mention of them in a film.” According to Variety, this forced filmmakers to come up with a new third act, requiring 22 days of reshoots costing between $10 million and $15 million, reportedly funded by the Jackson estate.
Critics were underwhelmed by the sanitised storytelling, with Michael earning a dismal 35 percent “rotten” score on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes. Empire said the biopic “cannot shake off the uncomfortable fact that there is an entire other side to the pop star’s story which is entirely conspicuous by its absence here.” The Telegraph declared in its one-star review: “Michael is a Part One that pretends its Part Two doesn’t exist: a structurally complete film that tells only half a story.” The Daily Mail’s Brian Viner summarised: “I’m sure it will delight Jackson fans happy to turn a blind eye to their hero’s darker predilections.”
It is not just critics who have turned their nose up at the film but Michael’s own family members, with his daughter Paris and sister Janet Jackson distancing themselves. At the world premiere, Michael’s sons Blanket and Prince were joined by Jermaine and Randy Jackson, yet Paris’s absence was glaring. She has been outspoken in her criticism, claiming Michael was “dishonest” and a “fantasy,” and levelling accusations against the two executors of her father’s estate behind the film’s production. Her legal battle with John Branca and John McClain peaked last year when she accused them of financial mismanagement. She said it was “troubling” that estate funds were used to finance most of the film’s $150 million budget, calling it a “botched production.” In response, lawyers for the estate hit back, telling TMZ that Paris’s protests are “without merit.”
Paris also took to Instagram to quash actor Colman Domingo’s claim that she is “very much in support of our film.” Domingo, 56, who plays Joe Jackson, told People he had “chatted briefly” with Paris and her brother Prince at the amfAR Venezia Gala, saying: “They’re very much in support of our film.” But Paris contradicted him, writing: “[Colman Domingo], don’t be telling people I was ‘helpful’ on the set of a movie I had 0% involvement in lol that is so weird.”
Michael’s youngest sister Janet, 59, was entirely scrubbed from the film after refusing to participate. Though she has not publicly revealed her thoughts, TMZ claims she was “very critical” after a private screening. Page Six reported that Janet “had something negative about almost every scene.” Also not included are Randy and Jermaine Jackson, though they supported the biopic at the premiere. Their sister LaToya Jackson admitted: “I wish everybody was in the movie. [Janet] was asked and she kindly declined so you have to respect her wishes.”
Director Antoine Fuqua told Variety that involving the Jackson family was important: “You’re telling somebody’s life, you want to make sure that they’re happy.” He added: “I have so much respect and love for Janet, but you know it’s OK. She’s supportive of Jaafar and that’s what matters.” Jaafar, son of Jermaine Jackson and Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza, began filming in 2023. Other stars include Nia Long, Miles Teller, Laura Harrier, Kat Graham, Jessica Sula, Kendrick Sampson, and Juliano Krue Valdi.
Michael had the biggest domestic opening for a biopic, landing $30 million over projections and surpassing Oppenheimer’s $80 million in 2023. It became the second-biggest opening of the year behind The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. According to The Hollywood Reporter, it is Lionsgate’s best debut since the pandemic and the company’s sixth-biggest debut after the four Hunger Games installments and the last Twilight film.
