Jackson Family Divided at Berlin Biopic Premiere as Paris Absent Amid Controversy
The Berlin premiere of the highly anticipated Michael Jackson biopic, titled Michael, became a stage for family division on Friday evening. While the late King of Pop's sons, Prince and Blanket, showed their support alongside other Jackson family members, daughter Paris was conspicuously absent from the star-studded screening.
Family Presence and Notable Absence
Prince, 29, and Blanket (also known as Bigi), 24, attended the premiere at the iconic venue, both dressed in sharp suits. Blanket's attire featured a distinctive patch referencing his father's legendary moonwalk, adding a personal tribute to the occasion. The brothers were joined on stage by Hollywood stars Miles Teller and Nia Long, who appear in the film, smiling for photographers in a united front.
Several other Jackson family members were present, including Jermaine and Randy Jackson. The event took on an additional family dimension with Jermaine's son, Jaafar Jackson, taking centre stage after stepping into the challenging role of his famous uncle for the biopic.
However, the absence of Paris Jackson, 28, was particularly striking. Her no-show came just hours after the Daily Mail reported that she has 'come to believe that the stories about her father being a pedophile are likely true.' Instead of attending the Berlin event, Paris was photographed running errands in Los Angeles, dressed in a casual, laid-back ensemble that suggested the premiere was far from her priorities.
Controversy Surrounding the $150 Million Production
The biopic, with a reported budget of $150 million, has been mired in controversy even before its scheduled release on April 22. The production reportedly underwent costly reshoots after concerns emerged that it breached a non-disclosure agreement and depicted the 1993 sexual abuse allegations against Michael Jackson as false.
Paris has been vocal in her criticism of the project in recent weeks, describing it as 'dishonest' and a 'fantasy.' She has also intensified her claims against the executors of her late father's estate, John Branca and John McClain, who are behind the film. Her legal dispute with them escalated last year when she accused them of financial mismanagement, lack of transparency, and wasting estate resources since Jackson's death in 2009.
Financial and Creative Disputes
Paris has reportedly received approximately $65 million from the estate but believes its lawyers may have overcharged and benefited from excessive fees during their 16-year tenure. She has questioned why Branca and McClain remain involved so many years after Jackson's death from acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication at age 50.
Specifically, Paris claimed the co-executors used estate funds to bankroll risky entertainment ventures, including the Michael biopic itself. She described it as 'troubling' that Branca and McClain financed most, if not all, of the film's $150 million budget, calling it a 'botched production.'
She also criticised creative decisions, such as casting Miles Teller as himself in the biopic, questioning how this 'peculiar and presumably costly casting decision' would translate to box office success. Paris further suggested that Branca's lack of film production experience might explain reports of tens of millions of dollars in reshoots being necessary.
Estate's Response and Paris's Stance
Lawyers for the estate have strongly rebutted Paris's allegations, stating that she and her legal team have 'either not been paying attention over the past several years or simply want to object for objections’ sake.' They accused her of playing media games with 'headline-grabbing, yet false, accusations' and noted that she declined an invitation to meet directly with them.
The estate's representatives emphasised that the executors have extensive producing experience, pointing to successful projects like Cirque du Soleil shows and MJ the Musical on Broadway. They argued that it would be 'irresponsible not to explore a major motion picture based on Michael Jackson’s life,' citing the success of Bohemian Rhapsody as a comparison.
Back in September, Paris took to Instagram to clarify her position, stating she had read an early draft of the script and provided notes about what she found dishonest. When her concerns were not addressed, she decided to move on, saying, 'not my monkeys not my circus.' She expressed that the film 'panders to a very specific section of my dad's fandom that still lives in a fantasy' and generally dislikes biopics for their tendency toward inaccuracy and controlled narratives.
As the April 22 release date approaches, the division within the Jackson family highlights the ongoing complexities surrounding Michael Jackson's legacy, with the Berlin premiere serving as a vivid illustration of the contrasting perspectives on how his story should be told and who should control it.
