Michael Jackson’s Nephew Calls out Media Ahead of MJ Biopic Release

Just ahead of the Friday release of the Michael Jackson biopic “Michael,” attention has turned away from the film itself and toward a sharp online exchange involving the late singer’s family. The conversation picked up after Taj Jackson, Michael’s nephew and son of Jackson 5 member Tito Jackson, posted a series of pointed messages on X, taking direct aim at media coverage surrounding the project and how his uncle’s legacy continues to be framed in public discourse.

In his posts, Taj Jackson pushed back strongly against what he sees as long-standing media narratives about Michael Jackson. He suggested that control over the story has shifted and no longer sits with journalists or traditional outlets. “The public gets to watch this movie… they will decide for themselves,” he wrote, before adding, “And you can’t handle that.” The tone of the posts carried a mix of frustration and defiance, reflecting ongoing tensions between the Jackson family and sections of the press that have covered Michael Jackson’s life and legal controversies for decades.

The film itself, titled “Michael,” is directed by Antoine Fuqua and produced in part by Michael Jackson’s estate. It traces the pop icon’s journey from his early years as a 10-year-old member of the Jackson 5 through to the peak of his global superstardom around 1988, during the era of his landmark “Bad” tour. The production initially included plans to extend the story into the early 1990s, including the widely publicised 1993 allegations of child molestation made against Jackson and the investigation that followed. However, those plans changed after legal complications tied to a past settlement agreement with one accuser. That discovery required significant revisions, leading to a newly structured third act and reportedly 22 days of reshoots, adding an estimated $15 to $20 million to the budget.

Despite the behind-the-scenes changes, early industry projections for the film remain strong. Reports from Variety suggest a domestic opening in the range of $65 to $70 million, with long-term global earnings projected to reach around $700 million if momentum holds. At the same time, critical reception has been less optimistic so far, with the film currently sitting at a 37 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on early reviews.

As debate continues online and across entertainment media, Taj Jackson doubled down on his comments. “Can’t wait ‘till some critics have to eat crow,” he wrote, adding, “And yes I will be that petty.”

Sorry media, u don’t get to control the narrative anymore of who Michael Jackson truly was. The public gets to watch this movie…they will decide for themselves.

And you can’t handle that.

— Taj Jackson (@tajjackson3) April 21, 2026

The audience under his post seems to agree with Tai’s narrative as well. Some of the comments under his X post read, “We know he truly was. The media cannot change it no matter the narrative they try to push. HE IS THE KING OF POP.👑”, “#JusticeForMichaelJackson

The truth needs to come out about everything who he was and how he died and who all had something to do with it!!! I want it all out there!!! Michael did not deserve that!!!!”, etc.

The remarks underline the emotional weight that still surrounds Michael Jackson’s legacy, especially as a new generation of audiences prepares to view his story through a dramatized lens on the big screen

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