Paris Jackson Condemns Michael Jackson Biopic as 'Dishonest' and 'Full of Lies'
The highly anticipated Michael Jackson biopic Michael has finally hit cinema screens, but it's already facing significant criticism from an unexpected source: the late King of Pop's own daughter. Paris Jackson has emerged as the film's most vocal critic, describing the production as "dishonest" and packed with "full-blown lies" in a series of public statements that have created a family divide over the cinematic portrayal of her father's legacy.
A Family Divided Over the Biopic's Release
While most of the Jackson family has supported the film's production, Paris Jackson has maintained a firm distance from the project for the past six months. The 28-year-old model and actress revealed that she read an early draft of the script and provided feedback about what she considered dishonest elements. "It didn't sit right with me and when they didn't address it, I moved on with my life," she declared in a social media video posted last September. "Not my monkeys not my circus. God bless and god speed."
Her absence was particularly noticeable during the world premiere in Berlin, where her brothers Prince (27) and Bigi (24) attended alongside other family members including their cousin Jaafar Jackson, who portrays Michael Jackson in the film, and uncles Jermaine and Randy Jackson.
Paris Jackson's Specific Criticisms of the Film
In her detailed critique, Paris Jackson expressed fundamental issues with how Hollywood biopics handle complex celebrity subjects. "The film panders to a very specific section of my dad's fandom that still lives in a fantasy, and they're gonna be happy with it," she explained. "The thing about these biopics is it's Hollywood. It's fantasy land – it's not real. But it's sold to you as real, and a lot of sugar-coated... the narrative is being controlled."
She specifically objected to what she described as significant inaccuracies in the film's portrayal of her father's life. "There's a lot of inaccuracy and there's a lot of full-blown lies. At the end of the day, that doesn't really fly with me. I don't really like dishonesty," she stated emphatically.
Paris also clarified her relationship with actor Colman Domingo, who plays her grandfather Joe Jackson in the film. After Domingo mentioned they had "chatted briefly" about the project, Paris countered that they had only met twice briefly at social events, describing them as "hella brief interactions."
Addressing Personal Misconceptions and Family Dynamics
The actress took the opportunity to address what she called misconceptions about her relationship with her late father. "Something quite a lot of people are saying is, 'She hates her dad. She resents him. She wants nothing to do with him,' because I'm not, like, calling the shots on set being a big-shot producer of a movie that's filled with just inaccuracies," she said. "That's not my truth. That's not where I'm coming from. I just prefer honesty over sales and monetary gain."
While acknowledging that fans will probably "like the movie," she made a clear request: "leave me out of it."
Contrasting Family Perspectives and Production Involvement
The film's production reveals a complex family dynamic. Michael Jackson's estate and most family members were heavily involved in the making of the Michael biopic, which reportedly cost approximately £200 million to produce, potentially making it the most expensive biopic in cinematic history. Producer Graham King confirmed that Prince Jackson "was on set every day" during filming, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Writer John Logan addressed the family's varying levels of involvement, stating: "Certain people in the family weren't interested in talking and that was fine; they didn't want to be represented in the movie or dramatised in the movie, that's totally fine. And look, Michael is a complicated person, people have complicated opinions, and that's fine. We chose to tell the uplifting story of his triumph in the movie, and that's what we did."
La Toya Jackson, who attended both the Berlin and Los Angeles premieres with siblings Marlon, Jermaine, and Jackie Jackson, emphasized the importance of family involvement in such projects. "I think it's very important that everybody in the family was involved and took part in this to make sure you get it right," she told Variety. She also noted that sister Janet Jackson "kindly declined" to be portrayed in the film.
Early Critical Reception and Film Details
The film Michael explores Jackson's journey from his early days as the lead singer of the Jackson Five to his evolution into a global entertainment icon. Early reviews have described the biopic as "bland," "shallow," and "sanitized" despite its ambitious scope and substantial budget.
Jaafar Jackson, who underwent a two-year casting process for the role, expressed being "humbled and honoured" to portray his uncle. Michael Jackson's mother Katherine Jackson approved of the casting, saying her grandson "embodies" her son.
The film also features Nia Long as Katherine Jackson and Miles Teller as entertainment lawyer and manager John Branca, creating a star-studded cast for this controversial cinematic interpretation of one of music history's most complex figures.
