Michael, which moonwalks into theaters April 24, is bursting with Jacksons. There’s Michael Jackson, of course, the movie’s protagonist, as well as his four older brothers; Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon. Together, with little baby Michael, they make the Jackson 5. His parents, good cop Katherine and bad cop Joe, serve in the film as his greatest supporter and his greatest adversary, respectively. Even his big sister Latoya is featured heavily. But a few Jackson family members are neither seen nor referred to in the film—and one of those absences is quite noticeable.
That’s right: Janet Jackson does not appear in Michael.
One can understand, perhaps, why Michael’s lesser-known siblings Rebbie and Randy aren’t characters in the film. But Janet, the 10th and youngest member of the family, is—like Michael—one of the best-selling pop music artists of all time. She rose to fame as an actress on Good Times, then followed in her elder brother’s footsteps, redefining pop music with Control (1986) and Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989)—both of which were released around the period covered by Michael. Over the course of her career, Janet has scored multiple number one hits, like “All for You,” “Together Again,” and “That’s the Way Love Goes.” She’s won five Grammys and headlined the most controversial Super Bowl halftime show of all time in 2004.
Yet despite all her accolades, the recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee is not mentioned a single time in Michael. She’s not included in a single montage, or even a photo of the family that appears in the movie. In Michael, it’s as if Janet Jackson never existed.
While on the red carpet at the premiere of Michael, LaToya addressed her little sister’s absence from the film. “I wish everybody was in the movie,” she said. “She was asked, and she kindly declined, so you have to respect her wishes.” Per reports, the Jackson estate did in fact ask Janet to participate in the production of Michael; she declined the invitation, and did not attend the world premiere at the Dolby Theatre.
Janet Jackson is not the only major artist who’s conspicuously not included in the film. Diana Ross—The Supremes frontwoman, pop icon, and Michael’s costar in The Wiz—was originally supposed to be in the movie, portrayed by actress Kat Graham. But just days before the premiere Graham shared on social media that she would no longer be appearing in the film due to “certain legal considerations” that “affected a few scenes.” As of now, it’s unclear what those legal considerations might have been.
So, putting aside that mystery: Why would Janet “kindly decline” her family business, and not allow her likeness to be used in the film? A March TMZ report may have the answer.
According to the gossip site, Janet was allegedly angry after attending a private screening of Michael with her family. After the screening, she allegedly called her brother Jermaine—who serves as an executive producer on the film, and whose 29-year-old son Jaafar Jackson stars as Michael—to express her ire. Per TMZ, Janet was the only member of the family to be critical of the film. The gossip rag also claimed her displeasure was rooted in jealousy. (Vanity Fair has reached out to Janet Jackson for comment.)
