CELEBRITY

Backlash Explodes! Spike Lee Slammed for Brushing Off Controversy in Michael Jackson Film: Critics Say ‘You Can’t Rewrite History’

Published

49 minutes ago

May 4, 2026

Spike Lee has defended the new Michael Jackson biopic against criticism for its omission of the allegations of child sexual abuse against the late singer, claiming that chapter of his life ‘doesn’t work in the timeline of the film’.

The film, titled Michael, stars the hitmaker’s real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson as the King Of Pop, and charts his life from being in the Jackson 5 in the Sixties to his early solo career.

And despite breaking box office records, the movie has sparked backlash over the producers’ decision to leave out the abuse allegations, which began in 1993 and plagued Michael later in his career and even after his death in 2009.

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However, director Spike, 69, has defended the film – which he said he’d already seen twice and ‘loves’ – insisting that the abuse accusations weren’t included as it only documents Michael’s life up until 1988 – before the first allegation was made.

‘First of all, if you’re a movie critic, and you’re complaining about all this other stuff, but the movie ends in ‘88,’ the Oscar winner told CNN. ‘And the stuff you’re talking about, accusations, happened [later].

‘So you’re critiquing the film on something that you want in, but it doesn’t work in the timeline of the film.’

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The film, titled Michael, stars hitmaker’s real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson as the King Of Pop (pictured), and charts his life from being in the Jackson 5 in the Sixties to his early solo career

View gallery

The film, titled Michael, stars hitmaker’s real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson as the King Of Pop (pictured), and charts his life from being in the Jackson 5 in the Sixties to his early solo career

Despite breaking box office records, the movie has sparked backlash over the producers’ decision to leave out the abuse allegations, which began in 1993 and plagued Michael late in his career and even after his death in 2009 (pictured at court in 2005)

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While he suggested that the fact the movie did so well at the box office further justified the omission, adding: ‘But people showed up. Worldwide, people showed their love.’

Spike was a long-time friend and collaborator of Michael, directing the 1996 music video for They Don’t Care About Us and two documentaries about the late star – Bad 25 (2012) and Michael Jackson’s Journey from Motown to Off the Wall (2016).

Reflecting on his relationship with the Billie Jean star and fellow late singer Prince, he said: ‘I miss Mike. I miss Prince. I mean, these are my brothers. I worked with both of them. Both beautiful, beautiful people.’

Michael’s career and legacy became clouded by rumours of paedophilia beginning in 1993, when he was accused of sexually abusing 13-year-old Jordan Chandler in a lawsuit filed by the boy’s father.

A criminal investigation found no physical evidence of abuse, but Michael ultimately settled the civil suit with the family in January 1994 for $23million.

He later faced further allegations, as well as a high-profile, sensational criminal trial on child molestation charges involving 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo in 2005. He was acquitted of all charges.

The Thriller star died in 2009 aged 50 of a cardiac arrest he suffered after having Propofol administered as a sleep aid.

But his legacy fell under renewed scrutiny in recent years over the ongoing molestation claims, which were reignited by Wade Robson and James Safechuck in the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland.

Leaving Neverland 2 was released last year and saw the pair’s ongoing legal battle as they doubled down on their claims that the late star sexually abused them as children for years.

In regards to his ‘approach’ to the biopic, the film’s director Antoine Fuqua previously said: ‘Just to tell the facts as we know it, about the artist, about the man, about the human being. You know, the good, bad, and the ugly.’

Spike was a long-time friend and collaborator of Michael directing the 1996 music video for They Don¿t Care About Us and two documentaries about the late star (seen in 1983)

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Spike was a long-time friend and collaborator of Michael directing the 1996 music video for They Don’t Care About Us and two documentaries about the late star (seen in 1983)

Can a Michael Jackson biopic on only half the story be true?

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The movie premiered a year later than planned, arriving in cinemas last month, after having an initial release date of April 2025.

Producer Graham King and Lionsgate forced major production delays when they decided to scrap any mention of the pop star’s abuse allegations.

Originally the film did address the 1993 abuse allegations, but lawyers for Jackson’s estate pushed back by citing the clause in the settlement agreement that ‘precluded any depiction or mention of them in a film.’

According to Variety, this forced filmmakers to come up with a new third act, requiring 22 days of reshoots that cost between $10million to $15 million, reportedly funded by the Jackson estate.

However, critics were underwhelmed by the sanitised storytelling of the cultural icon, with Michael earning a dismal 35 percent ‘rotten’ score on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes.

Empire said the biopic ‘cannot shake off the uncomfortable fact that there is an entire other side to the pop star’s story which is entirely conspicuous by its absence here.’

While in its one-star review, The Telegraph declared: ‘Michael is a Part One that pretends its Part Two doesn’t exist: a structurally complete film that tells only half a story.’

And The Daily Mail’s Brian Viner summarised the movie by pointedly noting: ‘I’m sure it will delight Jackson fans happy to turn a blind eye to their hero’s darker predilections.’

And it isn’t just critics who have turned their nose up at the film but Michael’s own family members, with his daughter Paris and sister Janet Jackson distancing themselves from the biopic.

At the world premiere last month, Michael’s sons Blanket and Prince were joined by members of the Jackson family, including Jermaine and Randy, yet Paris’s absence was glaring.

Michael’s career and legacy became clouded by rumours of paedophilia beginning in 1993, when he was accused of sexually abusing 13-year-old Jordan Chandler in a lawsuit filed by the boy’s father (Michael seen in 2006)

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Final trailer for Michael Jackson biopic ‘Michael’ released

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She has been outspoken in her criticism of the movie, while she is also said to be struggling with the fact she now believes the allegations against her late father after growing close to family of alleged victims. You can read more about that here.

Paris raised eyebrows when she claimed Michael was ‘dishonest’ and a ‘fantasy,’ while levelling accusations against the two executors of her late father’s estate who are behind the film’s production.

Her legal battle with John Branca and John McClain reached a peak last year when she accused them of financial mismanagement, lack of transparency and wasting estate resources since her father’s death in 2009.

She said it was ‘troubling’ to her that Branca and McClain used estate funds to finance most if not all of the film’s $150million budget, calling it a ‘botched production.’

Criticising the film’s plot, she said that she had ‘moved on’ after producers didn’t address her notes, but said it would ‘pander to a very specific section of my dad’s fandom that still lives in a fantasy.’

She clarified at the time ‘that I wasn’t involved at all’ and disliked biopics in general because in Hollywood there is ‘a lot of inaccuracy and there’s a lot of full-blown lies.’

In response, lawyers for her late father’s estate hit back, telling TMZ that Paris’s protests are ‘without merit.’

They added that she and her lawyers ‘seem far more interested in playing media games by making headline-grabbing, yet false, accusations; raising specific ‘concerns’ over issues previously addressed and resolved, and staging tabloid press photo ops strutting into hearings with obvious props.’

Lawyers for Branca and McClain claimed that Paris and her lawyer also ignored an invitation to meet with them.

While Paris took to Instagram to quash actor Colman Domingo’s claim that she is ‘very much in support of our film.’

It isn’t just critics who have turned their nose up at the film but family members, with his daughter Paris (left) and his sister Janet Jackson (right) distancing themselves

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It isn’t just critics who have turned their nose up at the film but family members, with his daughter Paris (left) and his sister Janet Jackson (right) distancing themselves

The Oscar-nominated actor, 56, plays her great grandfather Joe Jackson in the movie and told People in late August that he’d ‘chatted briefly’ with Paris and her brother Prince at the amfAR Venezia Gala.

‘They’re very much in support of our film,’ Colman gushed. ‘I’m excited to be here at amfAR tonight with Paris. It feels like that’s a nice way for us to be together.’

But taking to her Instagram Stories, Paris contradicted his statement, writing: ‘[Colman Domingo], don’t be telling people I was ‘helpful’ on the set of a movie I had 0% involvement in lol that is so weird.

‘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.’

However, Paris is not the only member of the Jackson clan to dismiss the biopic, with Michael’s youngest sister Janet, 59, being entirely scrubbed from the film after refusing to participate.

Though the singer has not publicly revealed her thoughts on the movie, TMZ claims that she was ‘very critical’ of the film after watching a private screening with her family.

While Page Six has reported that Janet ‘had something negative about almost every scene.’

They added: ‘The acting, the makeup, how the actors spoke, even how they walked. It was Janet deciding against the room that this movie wasn’t going to meet her approval.’

Also not included in the film are Randy and Jermaine Jackson, although they supported the biopic at the premiere. The eldest Jackson sibling, Rebbie also does not appear.

Speaking at the Los Angeles screening last month, their sister LaToya Jackson admitted: ‘I wish everybody was in the movie. [Janet] was asked and she kindly declined so you have to respect her wishes.’

Prince Jackson joined by the rest of the fam at Michael premiere

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While she dodged a question about Paris’s comments, but noted ‘everybody has their opinion and their choice’.

She added: ‘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.

‘A lot of times people think they know the story and they read about things, but when the family’s involved, the family can say yay or nay.’

Director Antoine told Variety that it was important for him to involve the Jackson family in the film, saying: ‘You’re telling somebody’s life, you want to make sure that they’re happy.’

He added: ‘I have so much respect and love for Janet, but you know it’s OK. She’s supportive of Jaafar and that’s what matters.’

Jaafar – who is the son of Jermaine Jackson and Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza – began filming scenes for the biopic in 2023.

Other stars in the project include Nia Long, Miles Teller, Laura Harrier, Kat Graham, Jessica Sula, Kendrick Sampson and Juliano Krue Valdi.

Michael had the biggest domestic opening for a biopic, landing $30 million over its projections as it surpassed Oppenheimer’s $80 million in 2023.

The movie also soared past the opening of Ryan Gosling-led Project Hail Mary to become the second-biggest opening of the year as The Super Mario Galaxy Movie remains in first place.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Michael is Lionsgate’s best debut since the pandemic, and the company’s sixth-biggest debut after the four Hunger Games installments and the last Twilight film.

MICHAEL: WHAT ARE THE CRITICS SAYING?

The Daily Mail

Rating:

Despite the film’s extravagant production costs, 116 million views of the trailer within 24 hours suggest that it will smash box-office records for a music biopic, and I’m sure it will delight Jackson fans happy to turn a blind eye to their hero’s darker predilections.

Deadline

‘The result is a fan’s delight if also a linear, rather predictable biopic that feels like the Wikipedia version of the complicated star’s life. It starts at the beginning and ends in the middle. Whether the story continues depends, I suppose, on whether the Jacksons want to keep cashing in, even if it gets unsavoury’

Empire

Rating:

‘Hugely impressive musical and dance performances from the two young men playing Michael Jackson cannot shake off the uncomfortable fact that there is an entire other side to the pop star’s story which is entirely conspicuous by its absence here.’

BBC Culture

Rating:

‘It’s bad. It’s bad. It’s really, really bad. The new Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, is produced by several of his relatives and close associates, so no one expected it to be a searing portrait of the controversial star. But it’s still surprising that they’ve made such a bland and barely competent daytime TV movie.’

The Guardian

Rating:

‘This is a frustratingly shallow, inert picture, a kind of cruise-ship entertainment, which can’t quite bring itself to show that Michael was an abuse victim, brutalised by his father and robbed of his childhood. Perhaps this is because it would have a cause-and-effect implication, gesturing tactlessly at the story’s second half…’

The Telegraph

Rating:

‘Michael is a Part One that pretends its Part Two doesn’t exist: a structurally complete film that tells only half a story’

The Hollywood Reporter

‘If you are unwilling to separate the art from the artist, this will not be a movie for you. But for lifelong fans who cherish the music, the movie delivers’

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Backlash Explodes! Spike Lee Slammed for Brushing Off Controversy in Michael Jackson Film: Critics Say ‘You Can’t Rewrite History’

CELEBRITY

Backlash Explodes! Spike Lee Slammed for Brushing Off Controversy in Michael Jackson Film: Critics Say ‘You Can’t Rewrite History’

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