Colman Domingo defends Michael Jackson biopic’s omission of abuse allegations
Colman Domingo has defended the Michael Jackson biopic (Getty Images)
Colman Domingo has defended the upcoming biopic Michael amid criticism that it “whitewashes” sexual abuse allegations against Michael Jackson.
Speaking Wednesday (22 April) on Today, Domingo, who plays Michael’s father, Joe Jackson, said the film deliberately focuses on the singer’s early life and career and aims to present “an intimate portrait” of Jackson’s rise to fame. The film’s timeline begins in the ’60s and ends in 1988, which is years before the first allegations against Jackson surfaced.
Nia Long, who plays Michael Jackson’s mother, Katherine, in the film, suggested the film bypassed this part of Jackson’s career in order to tell the singer’s story “through his eyes”.
‘This is about the making of Michael’
“Through his eyes, truly. That’s what it is. 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,” Domingo agreed.
Jackson was first accused of sexual abuse in August 1993 by Evan Chandler, an LA-based dentist and screenwriter. Chandler alleged Jackson had abused his 13-year-old son, Jordan, after befriending the boy while renting a vehicle from his stepfather. Chandler filed a $30 million lawsuit that spurred an investigation, which was closed in September 1994 following a settlement.
The decision to exclude that chapter of Jackson’s life has drawn backlash, with critics arguing it leaves out a significant and controversial part of his legacy. A report from Variety earlier this month has also suggested legal constraints tied to a clause in the Chandler settlement that prohibited any depiction or mention of Jordan Chandler in any movie, thusly influencing the film’s scope.
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