The new biopic, Michael based on the life of Michael Jackson is facing an intense backlash following its release.
It has reportedly been accused of presenting a heavily sanitized version of Jackson’s life.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson in the lead, the biopic traces the pop icon’s rise from child stardom with the Jackson 5 to his early solo success.
However, the Daily Mail awarded the film 2 stars, writing, “The storytelling is simplistic, the omissions egregious, but $200million sure buys a fabulous karaoke act.”
Meanwhile an industry outlet noted, “It feels like a deliberate effort to sidestep the most difficult chapters – audiences are left with spectacle rather than substance.”
“Whatever the denials have been, there is the belief Jackson was guilty of rampant pedophilia, and not one ounce of that is reflected here. What we are talking about here is a whitewash of his very controversial life and times,” they added.
On the other hand, Michael Jackson’s daughter Paris Jackson has also publicly distanced herself from the biopic, branding it as “botched production.”
Moreover, Paris’ sister declined to participate in the film, while LaToya Jackson her another sister wished “everybody was in the movie,” saying that Janet was asked “and she kindly declined, so you have to respect her wishes.”
Despite the controversy, Fuqua defended the project, saying, “You’re telling somebody’s life, you want to make sure that they’re happy.”
Noting that his intention was “just to tell the facts as we know it, about the artist, about the man, about the human being – the good, bad, and the ugly.”
For those unaware, Michael Jackson passed away at the age of 50 in 2009 following cardiac arrest.
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