Michael Jackson‘s origin story famously involves his nine musical siblings. But in the new Michael biopic, one of them was missing: 10-time Billboard Hot 100-topper Janet Jackson.
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And at premiere of the film on Monday (April 20) at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, LaToya Jackson shared why. Speaking to Variety on the red carpet, the Grammy winner said that her younger sister “was asked” to be depicted in Michael, but “she kindly declined.”
“So you have to respect her wishes,” LaToya added, noting that if it were up to her, Janet would’ve been included. “I wish everybody was in the movie.”
Director Antoine Fuqua also commented on the “That’s The Way Love Goes” singer’s absence. “I would love Janet to be there,” he told the publication about the only other Jackson whose Billboard chart domination is anywhere near older brother Michael’s epic run from 1979 through the early 2000s. “I have so much respect and love for Janet, but it’s OK. She’s supportive of Jaafar, and that’s what matters.”
Finally released after several delays, Michael is projected to debut with $150 million at the global box office, despite a number of initial poor reviews. With the King of Pop portrayed by his nephew Jaafar Jackson, the film shows Michael’s journey from childhood to musical greatness.
“Jaafar was absolutely fabulous,” LaToya told the publication. “We all forget and think that we’re watching Mike. It’s like, ‘Oh, I forgot this is Jaafar.’”
Though the Jackson estate and much of the family were involved in the project — including Michael’s son Prince — Janet, as well as the late icon’s other children, Paris and Bigi, kept their distance. Paris has been more vocal in criticizing the film, which she’s said contains “a lot of inaccuracy” and “full-blown lies.” She’s also criticized the Jackson estate for its spending on Michael, which she claimed was being used to “enrich and aggrandize” her dad’s executors.
The biopic was originally slated to premiere last year, but experienced heavy delays due to necessary reshoots after the Jackson estate realized the original script may violate a decades-old legal contract. The contract in question reportedly barred the estate from dramatizing the family of Jordan Chandler, who accused Michael of molesting him when he was 13 in the 1990s — an event that was allegedly a major plot point in the original Michael script, according to a Puck report. Jackson was never convicted or held legally liable on child molestation allegations.
When asked whether she was ever concerned that the movie might never be released due to the “bumps” along the way, LaToya told Variety, “No, I wasn’t. I knew within time, it would be.”
Watch LaToya Jackson’s conversation with Variety below.
