April 22, 2026, 10:52 a.m. ET
The new Michael Jackson biopic is almost here, but one member of the family is conspicuously absent.
The musical biopic “Michael” does not feature a portrayal of the king of pop’s sister Janet Jackson, and the reason for her absence has been revealed.
Speaking with Variety on the red carpet of the movie’s premiere in Hollywood on April 20, La Toya Jackson said her sister Janet was asked to approve of being included in the film, but she declined.
“I wish everybody was in the movie,” Jackson told Variety. “She was asked and she kindly declined, so you have to respect her wishes.”
At the premiere, “Michael” director Antoine Fuqua told Variety he would have loved for Janet Jackson to have been in the film, adding that he has “so much respect and love” for her. He also said that it was important to make sure the family is “happy” with the movie.
In a separate interview with Entertainment Tonight, La Toya Jackson refuted a report from TMZ that the film sparked a clash between Janet Jackson and her brother Jermaine Jackson.
“There was absolutely no problem whatsoever,” she said. “None whatsoever, and please believe that.”
Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew, portrays the singer in “Michael,” which also stars Colman Domingo as Michael’s father, Joe Jackson, and Nia Long as Michael’s mom, Katherine Jackson. La Toya Jackson appears in the movie, played by Jessica Sula, though she does not have a major role.
Numerous Jackson family members stepped out on Monday to support the movie at its premiere in Hollywood, including La Toya Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Jackie Jackson and Marlon Jackson.
But another family member who was notably absent from the premiere was Paris Jackson, Michael’s 28-year-old daughter. In September, she took to Instagram to criticize comments Domingo made to People suggesting she is supportive of the film.
“Don’t be telling people I was ‘helpful’ on the set of a movie I had 0% involvement in lol that is so weird,” she wrote on Instagram, per The Guardian. “I read one of the first drafts of the script and gave my notes about what was dishonest / didn’t sit right with me and when they didn’t address it, I moved on with my life.”
