Jaafar Jackson is paying tribute to his late uncle in the upcoming biopic Michael, while also addressing long-standing misconceptions about the King of Pop.
Set to release in theatres on April 24, the film follows Michael Jackson’s journey from his early days with the Jackson 5 to his rise as a global icon, while also touching on the controversies that surrounded his life.
Speaking to ExtraTV at the film’s Los Angeles premiere, Jaafar highlighted one of the most common misunderstandings about his uncle — the belief that he wanted to be white.
“That’s a big misconception,” he said, explaining that the film provides context by shedding light on Michael Jackson’s battle with vitiligo, a skin condition that causes loss of pigmentation.
The condition, which leads to white patches on the skin and sensitivity to sunlight, contributed to changes in his appearance over time. Despite this, speculation persisted during his lifetime that he was trying to alter his identity — claims he repeatedly denied.
For Jaafar, portraying his uncle authentically has been a deeply personal experience.
“Bringing my uncle’s story to the big screen has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” he wrote on Instagram, adding that the cast and crew worked to present his legacy with care and accuracy.