The Michael biopic, released this week, was never going to be received without backlash because so many don’t understand: it’s movie, not a documentary.
In 1993, Michael Jackson faced sexual allegations, and references to events were cut from the $200 million dollar movie, as Mediaweek reported last week.
But the decision to make $21m in edits and re-filming was not to ‘sanitise’ Jackson’s story, as too many negative reviews have complained; it was a legal obligation to protect an accuser who was a child.
Not Jackson.
I’ve read and watched so many critics (I’m not naming names) complaining that the movie has been “sanitised” for this edit – but they are showing their ignorance.
‘Michael’ biopic. Image: YouTube
There is a genuine, legal reason, for the cut of the allegations and controversies. It’s why the biopic’s timeline finishes in 1988 – ‘omitting’ his 2009 death at 50, too.
As mentioned above, Mediaweek reported a week before the release that the film originally concluded with the singer’s 1993 scandal, when a family accused Jackson of sexually abusing their 13-year-old son.
But lawyers for the Jackson Estate later found a clause in a settlement with the accuser, which prohibits the dramatisation of him in a movie.
The entire third act was then redone, but not at an expense to production; Jackson’s estate covered the costs as the error was caused by their oversight.
Yes, Jackson’s family has always denied all allegations of child sexual abuse against the singer, which were examined in the 2019 documentary, Leaving Neverland. But that is not the reason for any so-called ‘sanitisation’.
They simply had to cut the entire third act.
@stoney_tha_great Addressing the Negative Reviews for the Michael Movie #MichaelMovie #MichaelJackson #RottenTomatoes #MovieReviews #KingOfPop ♬ original sound – Stoney Tha Great
As a result, Michael‘s release had to be moved from April 18, 2025 to April 24, 2026.
Considering the effort and money involved, including the delay of release by an entire year, there was evidently a very serious reason beyond the story for the edits – and anyone who’s writing a review of the movie and accusing it of being ‘sanitised’ simply hasn’t done their homework.
Backlash to negative critics, including from Jackson’s nephew
Several content creators have also set the record straight about any ‘sanitisation’.
In a clip called “Addressing the negative reviews for the Michael movie”, Stoney Tha Great slammed negative reviews.
“All the negative reviews about the Michael movie at bullshit,” he said on TikTok.
“I’m not just saying that because I’m a huge Michael fan… The negative reviews clearly show evidence of a smear campaign.”
Accusing some critics of not even watching the film, he says claims that Michael “glazed” over sexual abuse allegations to “paint him in a perfect light” are simply wrong.
He pointed out that the movie’s release date was significantly delayed because “it addressed allegations it legally could not addressed.”
Further, two of Jackson’s nephews (brother Tito’s sons) – cousins to Jaafar Jackson (brother Jermaine’s son), who plays the singer in the film, have said also issued words of support for the film:
Taj Jackson’s words included, “Sorry media, u don’t get to control the narrative anymore of who Michael Jackson truly was.”
‘Omissions’ in Michael Jackson biopic which is not a documentary
References to the sexual abuse allegations against Jackson aren’t the only things ‘missing’ from the film, another reason why it’s important to keep in mind it’s not intended as a comprehensive view of Jackson’s life.
Sister Janet Jackson also declined to be involved with the concept, as did daughter Paris Jackson – while her brothers Bigi (formerly Blanket) and Prince have appeared at screenings.
Kat Graham, who portrayed Diana Ross in Michael, says she filmed several scenes that the world will never get to see. She said in a statement:
“Ahead of the April 24 release of the Michael Jackson film, I want to share that certain legal considerations affected a few scenes, including the ones I filmed with an incredible cast.
“Unfortunately, those moments are no longer part of the final cut, though the team worked hard to preserve as much of the story as possible.”
Indeed, as Rolling Stone’s film critic, David Fear argued, nobody should have ever expected to get a real Jackson biopic.
“This isn’t really a biopic,” he wrote. “This is the Passion of St. Michael, rendered with great fidelity to and emphasis on both Jackson’s undeniable suffering and equally undeniable talent. … To paraphrase a Jackson song: Please stop. We’ve had enough.”
Watch Michael if you’re a fan, and if you’re reviewing it professionally, do your homework on the King of Pop.
Top image: Jaafar Jackson plays Michael Jackson. Image: Michael