Janet Jackson will not appear in the upcoming biopic about her brother Michael Jackson.
At the Los Angeles premiere of Michael, director Antoine Fuqua’s film chronicling the late singer’s life, La Toya Jackson confirmed that Janet chose not to participate in the project.
“I wish everybody was in the movie,” La Toya said. “She was asked and she kindly declined so you have to respect her wishes.”
The film, which opens April 24, stars Jaafar Jackson, the son of Jermaine Jackson, as the King of Pop and follows Michael’s journey from his early years with the Jackson 5 through his rise as one of music’s most influential performers. While much of the Jackson family is represented on screen, Janet’s absence stands out, given her close relationship with her brother and her major impact on music and pop culture.
La Toya Jackson arrives at the ‘MICHAEL’ premiere in Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/sg7KL8yiBo
— Pop Base (@PopBase) April 21, 2026
Fuqua addressed her decision, saying, “I have so much respect and love for Janet, but you know it’s OK. She’s supportive of Jaafar and that’s what matters.”
The film has received backing from Michael Jackson’s estate and several family members. His son Prince was involved during production, while his son Bigi attended a premiere event earlier this year. His daughter, Paris Jackson, previously shared that she had “0% involvement” with the film and said she had reviewed an early script before stepping away from the project.