Who is Jaafar Jackson? Everything to Know About Michael Jackson’s Nephew
Jaafar Jackson is the latest name to emerge from one of the most influential families in show business. The 29-year-old Los Angeles native has stepped into the moonwalking shoes of his late uncle, Michael Jackson, in the new blockbuster biopic “Michael.”
The Biopic “Michael”
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, “Michael” follows Jackson’s career from the Jackson 5 era in the ’60s to the “Bad” era in the ’80s. The biopic has the support of the Jackson estate, but that’s not the reason Michael Jackson’s nephew was cast in the role.
“It wasn’t about what he was saying or even his look. It was just a feeling of rightness that was so strong I couldn’t ignore it,” Graham King, the producer of “Michael,” said of meeting Jaafar during the casting process. “I felt something a bit like it when Rami Malek walked into my office and said, ‘I’d love to play Freddie Mercury,’” King told NME. “But this took it to a whole new level. There was something so spiritual about Jaafar that just talking with him about Michael got me emotional. We looked at nearly 200 actors around the globe, and no one could beat Jaafar.”
Jaafar’s Background and Career
Jaafar’s father, Jermaine, was one of the original members of the Jackson 5, along with his brothers, Jackie, Tito, Marlon, and Michael. Jermaine was the group’s second lead vocalist until he left to pursue solo stardom in 1975. He was replaced by his youngest brother, Randy, and the group rebranded to The Jacksons.
Jaafar’s mother, Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza, was born in Colombia and graduated from UCLA with a degree in fashion design and marketing. Before Jermaine and Alejandra began dating, she was in a relationship with Jermaine’s brother, Randy. Although they never married, Alejandra and Randy had two children together: a daughter, Genevieve, and a son, Randy Jr.
Jermiane and Alejandra married on March 18, 1995, and welcomed Jaafar on July 25, 1996, followed by his brother, Jermajesty, in 2000. Jermaine filed for divorce from Alejandra in 2004, which was finalized in 2008 with Alejandra winning physical custody of Jaafar and Jermajesty.
Jaafar’s Preparation for the Role
Jaafar had no formal dance training or acting credits before “Michael,” save for one episode of “The Jacksons: Next Generation,” a 2015 reality show that followed the lives of his cousins, Taj, Taryll, and TJ. Jaafar rehearsed for three years, including two years as part of the audition process, and worked with Michael’s former choreographers, Rich and Tone Talauega, to learn his uncle’s signature dance moves.
“We had to take that syllabus and then infuse it into Jaafar,” Rich said on the KTLA 5 Morning News. “But let me tell you, man, he’s a Jackson, you know, he has this talent deep down inside his DNA. It just took us some time, but we pulled it out of him, and the work that he put into it was exceptional.”
Jaafar’s Musical Ambitions
Jaafar already shared his uncle’s musical ambitions; he began playing the piano at age 12 and released his debut single, “Got Me Singing,” in 2019. His website cites Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis, and “his own family’s rich musical heritage” as key influences.
Unlike recent biopics where actors sing live on set, Jaafar did not rely on his own voice to carry the musical scenes in “Michael.” Instead, the hit songs featured in the movie are “gloriously remastered and superbly lip-synched,” according to Deadline’s chief film critic Pete Hammond.
Jaafar’s Goal for the Role
When it came to dancing and choreography, Jaafar said his goal was not to impersonate his uncle, but rather to embody his performance style. “That was a challenge,” Jaafar told Entertainment Tonight. “Hitting every moment, every beat, but also having the energy and the showmanship behind the moves, too.”
Jaafar named “Billie Jean” — specifically Michael’s 1983 performance of the song on the TV special “Motown 25” — as the hardest sequence to nail while filming.
Support from the Jackson Family
When Jaafar landed the lead role in “Michael,” he received a vote of confidence from a core member of his family: Michael’s mother, Katherine Jackson. “Jaafar embodies my son,” Katherine said in a press release. “It’s so wonderful to see him carry on the Jackson legacy of entertainers and performers.”
The movie’s executive producers include Michael’s eldest son, Prince Jackson, and three of his brothers: Jermaine, Jackie, and Marlon. All four men attended the Los Angeles premiere of “Michael” at the Dolby Theatre, alongside Michael’s middle sister, LaToya Jackson — a strong show of support from the Jackson family.
Controversy Surrounding the Biopic
However, not all members of the Jackson family are supportive of the biopic. Michael’s daughter, Paris Jackson, has criticized the biopic as “sugar-coated” and clarified that she had “zero percent involvement” in the production. Paris said she was asked to read one of the first drafts of the “Michael” script and gave notes about details that she felt were “dishonest,” but she was told that her notes wouldn’t be addressed.
Paris is now involved in a complicated legal battle with the Jackson estate over the movie’s financials. The estate has fired back that Paris has “a complete lack of understanding about how the motion picture industry works and the role of producers in it.”
- Jaafar Jackson is Michael Jackson’s nephew and the star of the new biopic “Michael.”
- Jackson had no formal dance training or acting credits before “Michael.”
- He rehearsed for three years to prepare for the role, including two years as part of the audition process.
- Jackson’s goal was to embody his uncle’s performance style, rather than impersonate him.
- The biopic has received support from some members of the Jackson family, but has also been criticized by others, including Paris Jackson.
Jaafar’s journey to becoming the star of “Michael” has been a long and challenging one, but with the support of his family and his own dedication to the role, he has proven himself to be a talented and capable performer.