Who is Jaafar Jackson? The actor playing Michael Jackson in the controversial biopic

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Okay, so another music legend is getting the biopic treatment! It feels like after movies like Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman, and Elvis, Antoine Fuqua’s Michael is aiming to be a big hit in theaters. Even though there’s still a lot of debate about whether a Michael Jackson movie should even be made, it looks like it’s still going to try and dominate the box office.

You might be curious about how closely the actor playing Michael Jackson in the new movie looks like him. That’s because the role is being played by Jaafar Jackson – and he’s actually Michael Jackson’s nephew!

Jaafar Jackson is Michael Jackson’s nephew – his mother is Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza and his father is Jermaine Jackson. Although the recent movie Michael has received mostly poor reviews, Jaafar’s performance has been a standout. But who is Jaafar, and what was he doing before taking on this role?

Who is Jaafar Jackson?

Jaafar has a large family – eleven siblings through his parents’ previous relationships – and quickly distinguished himself among them. Like his uncle Michael, Jaafar Jackson seems naturally gifted for the spotlight. He first gained attention as a regular on the show Living with the Jacksons, later appearing in The Jacksons: Next Generation. He’s also built a following by performing covers of classic songs by artists like Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye.

Jaafar’s musical background, influenced by artists like Frank Sinatra and Stevie Wonder—and a naturally gifted family—led to the release of his debut single, ‘Got Me Singing,’ in 2019.

In 2023, Deadline reported that Jaafar Jackson will play Michael Jackson in an upcoming biopic, Michael. Jaafar has been singing and dancing since he was 12. Interestingly, his uncle Michael began performing with the Jackson 5 when he was only five years old – making him quite a bit older than Jaafar was when he started performing.

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Even though Jaafar was young when his uncle died in 2009, he shared with Today that he fondly remembers family game days. He described having a lot of fun at Neverland, playing hide-and-seek, enjoying treats, going on rides, and watching movies.

Jaafar’s audition for the role in Michael was unusual. When producer Graham King first contacted him about the biopic in 2020, Jaafar simply sent a voice recording of himself imitating the late Michael Jackson.

In a preview released in February 2026, Jaafar revealed he never imagined himself as an actor, let alone playing his uncle. He described it as something he felt destined to do, explaining that he worked hard to convince the filmmakers he could authentically portray Michael Jackson.

In an interview with Interview Magazine, Jaafar revealed he kept his role a secret for a year, waiting until he felt ready to share the news. He also described his mother’s reaction to seeing his performance, saying she was deeply moved and initially had trouble recognizing him on screen.

Jaafar described becoming an uncle as a bizarre experience, explaining to Jimmy Fallon that the lengthy makeup sessions felt both unreal and deeply meaningful. He shared that watching himself gradually become Michael was a surprisingly emotional process.

Jaafar’s preparation for the role went beyond just physical changes. He told Rolling Stone India that he thoroughly researched Michael Jackson to accurately portray him. Jaafar explained that Michael constantly studied artists he admired, carefully examining their techniques to learn what made them exceptional, and then used those elements to improve his own work.

I studied him the same way he studied others. Beyond the formal training, I immersed myself in interviews and personal footage, focusing on the subtle details of his behavior, and, above all, his humanity.

This inspired Jaafar to create a dedicated research space. He covered the walls with his uncle’s writings – quotes, personal notes, accomplishments, and a detailed timeline of world events during his life. It was a way to surround himself with everything that defined his uncle and fueled his work.

A Michael Jackson biopic wouldn’t be complete without the moonwalk, of course. Jaafar King, who will portray Jackson, is practicing his dance moves at the same location where Michael’s uncle reportedly first developed the iconic step, before Michael famously debuted it on the Motown 25 special in 1983, as King told CinemaBlend.

King remembers visiting Michael Jackson’s two-acre Hayvenhurst estate in Encino, California, where Jaafar would often practice. He believes Jackson invited them over to witness his moonwalk for the first time.

Jaafar trained with choreographers Rich and Tone Talauega, known for their work with Michael Jackson and the musical MJ The Musical, pushing himself so hard he danced until his feet were numb and bleeding. However, he said the actual performance was more challenging than the training. He explained to Extra that it wasn’t just about learning the steps, but truly making them his own, so the movements felt natural and originated from within – a process that took considerable time.

I finally got to see Michael in theaters, and honestly, I’m so curious to see what everyone thinks! All that work Jaafar Jackson put in… did it pay off? It’s up to us, the fans, to decide!

Michael is out now in cinemas.

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2026-04-22 15:20