Who Is Jaafar Jackson? What We Know So Far About Michael Jackson’s Nephew

Twenty-six-year-old Jaafar Jackson will step into the late singer’s shoes when he appears in the upcoming Lionsgate’s biopic Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day,The Equalizer) and produced by Bohemian Rhapsody‘s Graham King.

“It’s incredibly exciting to watch Jaafar bring Michael to life,” Antoine Fuqua has said. “There was such a spiritual connection when I first met Jaafar, who has a natural ability to emulate Michael and such a great chemistry with the camera.”

So, who is Jaafar Jackson, and how did he bag the role of Michael Jackson in this new movie?

Jaafar Jackson is the son of Michael Jackson’s brother Jermaine and Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza. Jermaine was part of the Jackson 5 with Michael, Tito, Marlon, Randy and Jackie.

The couple was married from 1995 to 2003, and they welcomed Jaafar in July 1996. He is the second youngest of Jermaine’s seven children. His mother, Alejandra notably dated Jermaine’s younger brother, Randy, and also had two children with him.

Jermaine Jackson had a notable reality TV career alongside his singing career. He was the first housemate to enter the Celebrity Big Brother 5 house in 2007, has appeared in Celebrity Wife Swap and the second season of CMT’s Gone Country.

On June 25, 2009, it was Jermaine who held the press conference at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, and broke the official news of Michael Jackson’s passing to the media

7 Jaafar Jackson Is Also A Singer

Jaafar Jackson is also a singer. He has been singing and dancing since the age of 12, so we are sure he’ll be able to keep up with Michael Jackson’s iconic vocals.

“As a young child, Jaafar had aspirations of being a professional golfer, however, having grown up surrounded by a family of iconic entertainers in Encino, California his entire life, it was only natural that Jaafar followed suit,” his IMDb profile says.

He has covered famous artists such as Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye, as well as performing original songs on his social media. He released his debut single Got Me Singing in 2019 alongside a music video that showcased his dancing talents.

6 The Michael Jackson Biopic Will Be Jaafar Jackson’s First Acting Role

Jaafar Jackson has appeared as himself in a number of Jackson-related projects, including The Jacksons: Next Generation and Tito Jackson’s music video in 2021.

The Michael Jackson biopic will be his first onscreen role.

5 How Was Jaafar Jackson Cast For The Michael Jackson Biopic?

Producer Graham King, Jaafar Jackson was selected for the role after a worldwide casting search. “It was clear that he is the only person to take on this role.”

“I am beyond thrilled that he has come on board to portray his uncle and cannot wait for the world to see him on the big screen as Michael Jackson.”

4 What Will Happen In The Michael Jackson Biopic?

Director Fuqua said his new movie would “explores the journey of the man who became the King of Pop”, while the film’s studio, Lionsgate, said it would include “his most iconic performances that led him to become the greatest entertainer of all time”.

Michael Jackson’s estate have excitedly given the rights to his entire musical catalogue. The screenplay will be written by John Logan, who also wrote Gladiator, The Aviator and the James Bond films Skyfall and Spectre.

3 Will The Biopic Tackle Michael Jackson’s Controversies?

This new biopic is being made with the cooperation of the Michael Jackson estate, which is likely to influence how the singer’s life is depicted. Many are wondering whether Michael will touch upon any of the allegations of child sexual abuse that were brought against Jackson and his other controversies.

A 2019 documentary following the accounts of Wade Robson and James Safechuck, claimed the pair were befriended by Jackson and sexually abused by him from ages seven and 10, in the early 1990s.

The upcoming biopic will “not shy away from the controversies of Jackson’s life, the pedophile accusations that haunted his latest years up to his death in 2009 at age 50, from cardiac arrest caused by a cocktail of sedatives.”, say sources.

Jackson always maintained his innocence and was found not guilty of child molestation in 2005. He died at 50 years old on June 25, 2009, just as he was preparing for his This Is It comeback tour.

2 How Did Jaafar Jackson React To The Michael Jackson Biopic Casting?

On Instagram, 26-year-old Jaafar Jackson said he was “humbled and honored to bring my Uncle Michael’s story to life.”

“To all the fans all over the world, I’ll see you soon,” he wrote on Instagram.

“There was such a spiritual connection when I first met Jaafar, who has a natural ability to emulate Michael and such a great chemistry with the camera,” Fuqua said in Lionsgate’s announcement.

1 Did The Jackson Family Approve Of Jaafar Jackson’s Casting?

Michael Jackson’s mother and Jaafar Jackson’s grandma, Katherine Jackson has supported his casting, She described Jaafar as the perfect choice for the role, saying, “Jaafar embodies my son. It’s so wonderful to see him carry on the Jackson legacy of entertainers and performers.”

In a previous statement announcing the movies release, Katherine Jackson, said: “Ever since Michael was little, as a member of the Jackson 5, he loved the magic of cinema.” As a family, we are honored to have our life story come alive on the big screen.”

The biopic is set to start production in late 2023.