Colman Domingo defends Michael Jackson biopic, says it is about him finding ‘his voice as an artist’
MALIBU, CALIFORNIA: Actor Colman Domingo has addressed criticism on Wednesday, April 22, surrounding 'Michael,' a biographical film on "The King of Pop," Michael Jackson which has generated significant attention ahead of its release.
The project has drawn scrutiny for its narrative choices, particularly for omitting key aspects of the singer’s later life. The debate centers on whether the film presents an incomplete portrayal of the pop icon, even as it is expect to achieve major commercial success.
Colman Domingo responds to criticism over 'Michael' film narrative
In the lead-up to its scheduled premiere on Friday, April 24, Domingo and actress Nia Long, who portray Jackson’s parents Joe and Katherine, addressed the growing criticism during a morning interview on the show 'Today.' During the conversation, co-anchor Craig Melvin pointed out that the film concludes in 1988, five years Jackson got embroiled in a major controversy.
He asked, “What would you say to folks who see this” and believed the film “whitewashed that part” of Jackson’s legacy. Domingo began by reiterating that “the film takes place from the ’60s to 1988, so it does not go into the first allegations in, what, 2005? Basically, we center it on the makings of Michael. It’s an intimate portrait of who Michael is.”
The pop icon faced his first allegation from Jordan Chandler's father, Evan, including a $30 million lawsuit, which prompted an investigation that was closed a year later following a settlement with the grand jury subsequently declining to indict Jackson.
The investigation into Jackson was reopened in 2003 after the documentary 'Living With Michael Jackson' featured testimony from 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo. Jackson faced a trial in 2005, and was ultimately acquitted on all counts.
Long suggested to Melvin that this aspect of Jackson’s life was not included in the film due to the decision to tell the pop star’s story “through his eyes.”
Domingo reinforced that perspective, stating, “That’s what this film is, and there’s the possibility of there being a part two that may deal with other things that may happen afterwards. This is about the making of Michael, how he was raised, and how he was trying to find his voice as an artist.”
The future of 'Michael' movie remains unclear
It remains unclear whether there will be a follow up to 'Michael' even though rumors of a possible sequel is making the rounds online. Director Antoine Fuqua has not indicated his plans either way, though he questioned some of the accusers’ accounts, stating that “sometimes people do some nasty things for some money.”
Dan Reed, the director of the 2019 docuseries 'Leaving Neverland,' which detailed two additional accusations made after Jackson's 2009 death, criticized 'Michael' in 2024.
He remarked at the time, after reading a draft of the script, “It’s an out-and-out attempt to completely rewrite the allegations and dismiss them out of hand, and contains complete lies.”
A report published earlier this month in Variety stated that 'Michael' does not address the allegations due to a clause in the Chandler settlement that barred any depiction or mention of Chandler in any film.
According to the report, Fuqua had initially planned to depict this period in Jackson’s life. Production had even filmed a scene showing investigators searching Neverland for evidence, but after the Michael Jackson Estate identified the clause in the Chandler settlement, the film was revised to exclude the allegations entirely.
