Diana Ross looms large in the mythology of Michael Jackson, but the Supremes singer is nowhere to be found in Antoine Fuqua‘s biopic Michael, nor is Kat Graham, who filmed scenes as the Motown icon.
On social media today – including an Instagram Story post (see it below) – Graham writes, “Ahead of the April 24 release of the Michael Jackson film, I want to share that certain legal considerations affected a few scenes, including ones I filmed with an incredible cast. Unfortunately, these moments are no longer part of the final cut, though the team worked hard to preserve as much of the story as possible.”
Graham did not provide specific details about the “legal considerations” faced by the Lionsgate endeavor.
The Diana deletions mark the latest news about last-minute changes made to an initial cut of the biopic: Scenes involving accusations against Jackson of child sexual abuse were excised when the Jackson Estate discovered a past settlement with one of the accusers that prevented the dramatization of his storyline and character.
While Motown once fostered the unfounded claim that Ross discovered the Jackson 5 – Michael Jackson and his brothers – it was actually Gladys Knight who found the group performing in Chicago and encouraged Motown boss Berry Gordy to sign them. Gordy later thought that involving the hit-making Ross in the the tale would be good for marketing, which it was.
Michael stars Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson as the Thriller superstar, with Colman Domingo as family patriarch Joe Jackson and Nia Long as mother Katherine. Also in the cast are Miles Teller, Laura Harrier and Larenz Tate.
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