It’s a long-awaited project by fans of the King of Pop. The biopic “Michael,” dedicated to Michael Jackson and directed by Antoine Fuqua, sheds light on a young talent who is no other than Jaafar Jackson, the singer’s own nephew, who tragically passed away in 2009. Let’s introduce this discreet member of an impressive family of artists.
Where does Jaafar fit in the Jackson family?
Born in July 1996, Jaafar is the son of Jermaine – the 4th of Joe and Katherine Jackson’s 9 children – and Alejandra Oaziaza, who are also the parents of Jermajesty (2000). The couple separated in 2004, and following this separation, he and his brother lived with their paternal grandparents for a long time. Jaafar has other half-brothers and sisters. His mother Alejandra had two children, Genevieve (1989) and Steven (1992), with Randy, the youngest Jackson brother (who are also his cousins). She also raised Donte (1992). As for Jermaine, he is also the father of Jermaine II (1977), Autumn (1978), and Jaimy (1987) whom he had with Hazel Gordy; as well as Jeremy (1986) and Jourdynn (1989) with Margaret Maldonado; not to mention Dawn (whose mother is unknown) and the youngest, Abu Bakr, with Maday Velazquez.
He is also the cousin of the 3T (Taj, Taryll, TJ), the sons of Tito.
Jaafar Jackson didn’t always want to be an artist
Even though he grew up in a very musical environment, as a child, Jaafar didn’t think about becoming a singer or even a dancer but… a golfer. Yet, he did have the music gene in him. In 2019, after thrilling with cover songs of Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye, he released his debut single, “Got Me Singing.” At the same age, Michael Jackson had released “Thriller,” the best-selling album of all time.
In an interview with “Today,” he remembered the moments spent with his uncle whom he was close to: “Michael would come to visit me and we would spend entire days playing board games.” He would also visit him at his Neverland ranch, a real amusement park for the child he was. Michael passed away a few weeks before Jaafar blew out his 13 candles.
In the biopic “Michael,” he therefore portrays his own uncle. A delicate role, as the comparison to his iconic uncle is inevitable. This film marks his very first venture into the world of cinema. And during an interview with the magazine “Interview,” Jaafar admitted to hiding from his family for “a whole year” that he would portray the iconic interpreter of “Beat It.” “I kept the secret until I felt comfortable enough to talk about it,” confessed the young man. “But when my mother saw me on screen, she was overwhelmed. She had trouble recognizing me, it moved her a lot.”
Jaafar, a man in love
In his private life, Jaafar Jackson has been in a relationship since 2016 with Maddie Simpson, also a singer. The couple got engaged in 2024.
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