Every little thing to Know About Jaafar Jackson, Nephew of Michael Jackson

Jaafar Jackson, the nephew of Michael Jackson, has left the world of entertainment stunned with the first look photo of the upcoming biopic on the ‘King of Pop’ in which he is seen recreating the iconic ‘Man in the Mirror’ look.

Jaafar is making his acting debut in the role of his uncle in producer Graham King’s Michael.

The ‘Man in the Mirror’ is a famous picture of Michael Jackson taken by photographer Kevin Mazur during the music icon’s Dangerous Tour from 1992 to 1993.

“With Jaafar, every look, every note, every dance move is Michael,” King said in a statement. “He embodies Michael in a way that no other actor could.”

What is Michael about: Cast, director and release date

According to the logline of the film, Michael “will bring audiences a riveting and honest portrayal of the brilliant yet complicated man who became the King of Pop.”

“The film presents his triumphs and tragedies on an epic, cinematic scale — from his human side and personal struggles to his undeniable creative genius, exemplified by his most iconic performances. As never before, audiences will experience an inside look into one of the most influential, trailblazing artists the world has ever known,” the logline further reads.

Besides Jaafar, who plays Michael Jackson, the cast includes Colman Domingo as Michael’s father Joe Jackson, Nia Long as his mother Katherine Jackson, Juliano Krue Valdi as a young Michael and Miles Teller as lawyer John Branca.

The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua, whose string of hit movies include Training Day (2001), Tears of the Sun (2003), Shooter (2007), Olympus Has Fallen (2013), and The Equalizer trilogy (2014–2023). He has also directed the critically acclaimed documentaries American Dream/American Knightmare (2018), What’s My Name: Muhammad Ali (2019) and Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers (2022).

“It goes beyond the physical resemblance. It’s Michael’s spirit that comes through in a magical way. You have to experience it to believe it,” Fuqua told Variety about Jaafar playing Michael.

Michael is set for release in theatres on 18 April 2025.

Jaafar Jackson: Family, music and fashion

He is a third-generation member of the Jackson family

Jaafar Jackson was born on 25 July 1996 in Los Angeles, California. He is the son of Michael Jackson’s older brother Jermaine Jackson. His mother is Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza. His parents were married from 1995 to 2003.

Jermaine Jackson was one of the most famous faces of the Jackson 5, the family music group in which Michael used to perform before becoming a music legend in his own right.

The Jackson family includes Jaafar’s aunts Janet Jackson, La Toya Jackson, Rebbie Jackson and Joh’Vonnie Jackson. His uncles include Tito Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Jackie Jackson and Randy Jackson. All of his aunts and uncles, barring Joh’Vonnie, have been professionally associated with the world of music.

His grandfather is the late music icon Joe Jackson. His grandmother, 93-year-old Katherine, is the matriarch of the Jackson family.

Jaafar is, therefore, a third-generation member of the family. He has a younger brother, Jermajesty Jermaine Jackson, who was born in 2000, and a number of half-siblings from his parents’ other relationships.

His cousins include Michael Jackson’s three children: Prince Michael, Paris Jackson and Bigi (formerly known as Blanket). Jaafar is seemingly close to his cousins, having previously praised Paris, who is a model, saying that he is very proud of her.

He was 12 when he started singing and dancing

Reports suggest that Jaafar began his journey into the world of music when he was only 12 years old. He learned to sing and took up dancing in a style similar to that of his world-famous uncle. He performed covers of songs by artists such as Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye.

“Got Me Singing” was his first single. It was released in 2019 and has garnered over 9 million views on YouTube, as of February 2024.

“I love to write music that makes you feel something, whether it makes you feel sad, happy, or just feel good, or makes you want to get up and dance. I love to tell stories through my music,” he told Design Scene in 2017.

As a young man, he also appeared in the family project, the reality TV show The Jacksons: Next Generation (2015).

In 2021, he was part of his uncle, Tito Jackson’s, music video “Love One Another.” Besides several other members of the Jackson family, the music video also featured notable celebrities from around the world, including Chris Tucker, Kim Kardashian, Magic Johnson and Tyson Fury.

Jaafar Jackson loves fashion

In a profile on Jaafar Jackson in 2023, Empire magazine noted that he has “established a social media presence as a talented singer and dancer.”

The social media presence the magazine underlined reflects Jaafar’s trendy fashion sense as well. He started modelling sometime around 2017, according to what he revealed to Design Scene in an interview the same year.

“I love fashion and always have. It’s important to me, especially with what I’m trying to do in music,” he said.

He has only two posts on Instagram

Jaafar Jackson maintains a low profile on social media, at least this is what appears from his official Instagram account. The account was created in March 2012 and was verified in July 2017.

However, there are only two posts — both showing Jaafar practising the famous dance moves of Michael Jackson.

Both pictures are in grainy black-and-white. The first of the two was posted in January 2023. The second was in January 2024, in which he announced the start of the filming of Michael.

Jaafar’s Instagram account has over 251K followers as of 14 February 2024.

Katherine has praised her grandson’s appearance as Michael

Katherine Jackson told The Hollywood Reporter that Jaafar “embodies” her son.

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“It’s so wonderful to see him carry on the Jackson legacy of entertainers and performers,” she said.

Jaafar, too, has expressed his pride in playing the character of his uncle.

“I’m humbled and honoured to bring my Uncle Michael’s story to life. To all the fans all over the world, I’ll see you soon,” he wrote in the first of his two posts on Instagram.

(Hero and Featured images: Courtesy of Michael Jackson/@michaeljackson/Twitter)

This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia India

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

– Who is Jaafar Jackson related to?

Jaafar Jackson is related to Michael Jackson as the latter’s nephew. He is a member of the Jackson family.

– What happened to the Jackson 5?

The Jackson 5 went into hiatus in 1989 and never recorded together again. They reunited in 2001 for two special performances and the remaining members of the group have been performing on and off since then.

– How old was Michael Jackson when he left the Jackson 5?

Michael Jackson left the band in 1984, as he had established his name as a solo artist by then. At the time, he was around 26 years old.

– Where is MJ buried?

His family interred Michael Jackson in a private burial service at Forest Lawn in Glendale, California.

– How old was MJ when he died?

Michael Jackson was 50 years old when he died on 25 June 2009.