Jaafar Jackson, who is the son of Jermaine Jackson, has been praised for her portrayal of the late singer
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NEED TO KNOW
- Jaafar Jackson is the late Michael Jackson’s nephew
- He is the son of Jermaine Jackson, who is best known for being a member of The Jackson 5
- Jaafar portrays his uncle in the new biopic, Michael, which premiered on April 24, 2026
Jaafar Jackson is moonwalking into movie theaters and following in the footsteps of a famous family member.
The actor plays his uncle, Michael Jackson, in the new biopic Michael, which premiered on April 24. Playing the pop star was not something Jaafar took lightly, telling PEOPLE at the film's April 20 Los Angeles premiere: "I knew to make my family proud."
"I knew I would have to have a work ethic that was incredible and really take on everything the way Michael would take it on," he continued.
In a statement to Variety in January 2023, director Antoine Fuqua said, "It's incredibly exciting to watch Jaafar bring Michael to life. There was such a spiritual connection when I first met Jaafar, who has a natural ability to emulate Michael and such a great chemistry with the camera."
Fans first got a glimpse of Jaafar in the role in a November 2025 teaser trailer, which showed footage of the young star replicating his uncle's iconic choreography. When the reviews for Michael were published in the days leading up to the film's April 24 release, critics praised Jaafar's performance, calling the portrayal of his uncle "perfection." However, the movie has also been criticized for not including more controversial details of Jackson's life.
Here's everything to know about Michael Jackson's nephew, Jaafar Jackson.
His dad is Jermaine Jackson, Michael Jackson's brother
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Jaafar is the son of Jermaine Jackson and Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza. The couple, who was married from 1995 to 2003, welcomed Jaafar in July 1996.
Jermaine is a singer, songwriter and producer best known for being a member of the Jackson 5 alongside his brother Michael.
He's a rising singer
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Jaafar has been singing and dancing since age 12, according to Deadline, and has showcased himself covering artists such as Sam Cooke to Marvin Gaye, along with originals.
In 2019, he released his first single, "Got Me Singing," along with a music video that displays his talents.
Michael marks his acting debut
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Jaafar is no stranger to the screen, having appeared in a number of family-oriented projects over the years, including 2015's The Jacksons: Next Generation and Tito Jackson's 2021 music video "Love One Another."
But Michael marks Jaafar's acting debut.
"It's incredibly exciting to watch Jaafar bring Michael to life," Fuqua told Variety. "There was such a spiritual connection when I first met Jaafar, who has a natural ability to emulate Michael and such a great chemistry with the camera."
He has the approval of Michael Jackson's mother, Katherine
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Jaafar already has the stamp of approval from the person who knows Michael best: his mom.
Katherine Jackson, the King of Pop's mother, said that Jaafar "embodies" her son.
"It's so wonderful to see him carry on the Jackson legacy of entertainers and performers," she told The Hollywood Reporter.
Other family members have also praised Jaafar's performance, including his uncle Marlon.
"First of all, let me say one thing. I say this every time I speak of this movie: Jaafar is unbelievable," Marlon told Entertainment Tonight in April 2026. "As a matter of fact, I think he's the only one that could have done this. I'm watching the movie and sometimes I'm thinking I'm watching Michael up there, and I forget 'Oh, it's Jaafar.' "
He's "honored" to play Michael Jackson
Credit: People Picture/Shutterstock
In January 2023, Jaafar uploaded a photo to his Instagram announcing the Michael casting news.
"I'm humbled and honored to bring my Uncle Michael's story to life," he captioned a black-and-white image of himself striking the late singer's iconic pose. "To all the fans all over the world, I'll see you soon," he added.
While preparing for the role, Jaafar revealed that he spent time in the Jackson family's California estate, Hayvenhurst, to "feel the energy."
“I slept in many different rooms in the house just to feel the energy,” he told co-star Miles Teller for Interview Magazine in April 2026. “Staying there allowed that to happen without forcing it. I was so fortunate to have that as my playground. Without that, I don’t think my performance would be what it is, honestly.”
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