A Legal Battle Over the Michael Jackson Estate
Paris Jackson has publicly criticized the upcoming biopic Michael as “dishonest” and a “fantasy,” continuing her accusations against the two executors of her late father’s estate who are behind the film’s production. The biopic, set for release on April 24, has sparked controversy, with Paris claiming that the co-executors used estate funds to finance most of the film’s $150 million budget.
Lawyers for the estate have responded to Paris’ protests, stating they are “without merit.” The legal battle between Paris and John Branca and John McClain reached a peak last year when she accused them of financial mismanagement, lack of transparency, and wasting estate resources since Jackson’s death in 2009. Paris has been vocal about her dissatisfaction with how the estate is being managed.
She recently spoke out again, highlighting her concerns over the film’s production. Paris questioned Branca’s decision to cast Miles Teller as himself in the biopic, suggesting it was an “unclear” and potentially costly choice. She also pointed out that Branca’s lack of experience as a film producer may be responsible for reports of the estate funding tens of millions in reshoots after a settlement agreement prevented the use of footage already shot.
The estate’s lawyers have dismissed Paris’ complaints, saying she and her legal team “either haven’t been paying attention over the past several years or simply want to object for objections’ sake.” They added that Paris and her lawyers seem more interested in making headlines with false accusations rather than addressing real issues.
They emphasized that the executors have extensive producing experience and have successfully produced projects involving Jackson, such as the Cirque du Soleil shows and MJ the Musical on Broadway. The lawyers also defended the decision to explore a major motion picture based on Michael Jackson’s life, citing the success of films like Bohemian Rhapsody.
Paris’ legal team reportedly ignored an invitation to meet with the executors. Attorney Jonathan Steinsapir stated that Paris and her lawyer are “abusing the courts and the legal system by making a series of false allegations as part of a media campaign.”
Steinsapir added that the executors have been meticulous in their decisions, noting that Paris has already received roughly $65 million in benefits and stands to inherit many hundreds of millions more. He highlighted that the estate was $500 million in debt at the time of Michael’s death but was turned into a business generating billions in revenue.
Support from Family Members
Despite the controversy, the biopic has reportedly received support from Paris’ brother, Prince. Actor Colman Domingo, who plays Paris’ grandfather Joe Jackson in the film, mentioned that Prince is a fan of the film and also a producer on it. Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson, 29, and Paris’ cousin, portrays the pop star in the movie.
Back in September, Paris shared her thoughts on the film via Instagram. She wrote that she read one of the first drafts of the script and provided her notes about what she found dishonest or unsettling. When the producers didn’t address her concerns, she moved on with her life, saying, “not my monkeys not my circus. god bless and god speed.”
Paris acknowledged that she wasn’t involved in the production and expressed her general dislike for biopics. She described them as “Hollywood. It’s fantasy land — it’s not real.” However, she noted that the film is sold as real and often includes “sugar-coated” narratives controlled by others.
Paris emphasized that the film panders to a specific section of her father’s fandom that still lives in a fantasy. She added that she hasn’t spoken out until now because she knows many fans will be happy with the film.
