Colman Domingo Pushes Back on Claims That Michael Jackson Biopic ‘Whitewashes’ Abuse Allegations

Colman Domingo is addressing criticism of his new film Michael which details the life and career of Michael Jackson.

The film, which hits theaters on Friday, April 24, has received backlash for omitting Jackson’s sexual abuse allegations. Domingo stars alongside Nia Long as Jackson’s parents, Joe and Katherine, and the two actors addressed the controversy on Today.

Co-host Craig Melvin noted how the film ends in 1988 which was four years before the first sexual abuse allegations against Jackson were made. Melvin asked Domingo and Long, What would you say to folks who see this” and believed the film “whitewashed that part” of Jackson’s legacy.

Domingo emphasized how 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.”

Long also weighed in on the discussion, suggesting to Melvin that the film chose to omit that part of Jackson’s life as its goal was to his story “through his eyes.”

Domingo added, “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.”

The first sexual abuse allegation against Jackson was in 1993 when Evan Chandler claimed Jackson sexually abused his 13-year old son Jordan. The investigation was closed a year later following a settlement and a grand jury chose not to indict Jackson.

According to claims in a report by Variety on Tuesday, April 7, the film did not depict any sexual abuse allegations against Jackson because of a clause in the Chandler settlement that bars any depiction or mention of Jordan in film.

Furthermore, Michael director, Antoine Fuqua planned to depict that period in Jackson’s life per the Variety report. A scene was shot where investigators searching Neverland for evidence but this scene was scrapped after Jackson’s estate discovered the clause in the Chandler settlement.

Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson portrays the late musician in the film.