Michael Jackson biopic faces critical backlash as nephew Taj Jackson fires back

• Taj Jackson defends the biopic, claiming the public will decide its true merit.
• Michael holds a low 26% score on Rotten Tomatoes as of 23 April 2026.
• The film omits the controversial later years, focusing solely on Jackson's rise to 1988.

Taj Jackson, the nephew of Michael Jackson, has launched a sharp critique of the media’s coverage of the upcoming biopic Michael, asserting that journalists no longer "control the narrative."

In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, the son of Tito Jackson dismissed the influence of professional critics, stating: "The public gets to watch this movie, they will decide for themselves. And you can’t handle that."

Taj later added that he "can't wait till some critics have to eat crow," promising to be "petty" once the film reaches audiences.

The Antoine Fuqua-directed film is scheduled for its US theatrical release tomorrow, 24 April 2026, but early critical reception has been largely negative.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film currently sits at a 26% critic approval rating (dipping from its initial 36%). Reviewers have widely panned the production as "sanitised" and "hagiographical," specifically criticising the decision to conclude the narrative in 1988 at the peak of the Bad era.

This timeline effectively allows the film—which was approved and financed by the Jackson estate—to omit the child sexual abuse allegations that first surfaced in 1993.

Michael stars Jaafar Jackson in his debut role as his uncle, alongside Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson and Nia Long as Katherine Jackson.

While critics have praised Jaafar’s physical resemblance and dance performances, they argue that the script lacks emotional depth.

Despite the critical panning, advance ticket sales remain strong, particularly in international markets like India, where the film is expected to have a massive opening weekend.