Janet Jackson finds herself at the center of a family dispute over the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, “Michael,” with tensions reportedly running high between her and brother Jermaine Jackson, among others.
According to a source close to the family, the rift first surfaced during a phone call following a private screening in Los Angeles last week, attended by several Jackson family members ahead of the film’s theatrical release next month.
While Jermaine was reportedly enthusiastic about the film — his son Jaafar plays the title role — Janet is said to have come away with serious reservations. The source claims the disagreement goes beyond differing opinions on the movie itself, alleging that underlying tensions within the family have contributed to the fallout.
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Janet was notably the only family member to walk away from the screening with a negative reaction, the source says. Others in attendance, including matriarch Katherine Jackson, were said to be very supportive of the project, with the majority of the family siding with Jermaine.
The biopic was produced by the Michael Jackson estate. Janet neither participated in the production nor appears in the film — though the source indicates she was extended an invitation to be involved and chose to decline.