LaToya Jackson explains why Janet Jackson isn’t in the ‘Michael’ biopic

Sorry, fans of Ms. Janet Jackson: the singer will not be featured in the new biopic about her late brother, Michael Jackson.

Director Antoine Fuqua’s film Michael, about the controversial King of Pop’s rise to fame, hits theaters on April 24. It stars 29-year-old Jaafar Jackson, the son of Michael’s older brother, Jermaine Jackson, in the titular role.

The film explores Michael’s personal and professional life, beginning with his childhood, when he was in the Jackson 5. It features most of his family, including his mother Katherine, his father and manager Joseph, his sister LaToya; and the other original members of the Jackson 5, his brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon.

Janet, however, who shot to fame in the 1980s, will not be portrayed in Michael despite having a close relationship with the pop star. At the Los Angeles premiere on Monday, the real LaToya explained why.

“I wish everybody was in the movie,” LaToya told Variety. “She was asked and she kindly declined so you have to respect her wishes.”

Fuqua also spoke to the outlet about Janet’s absence, saying, “I have so much respect and love for Janet, but you know, it’s OK. She’s supportive of Jaafar and that’s what matters.”

In March Page Six reported that Janet had several criticisms of the film after a private screening with other members of the Jackson family.

The biopic received support from Michael’s estate and many members of the Jackson family, including Michael’s 29-year-old son Prince, who was reportedly on set every day during production. Bigi, Michael’s 24-year-old son, also showed his support by appearing at an earlier Berlin premiere. However, Michael’s daughter Paris, 28, said she had “0% involvement” with the production, and criticized it, saying in an Instagram Story last year that she “read one of the first drafts of the script and gave my thoughts on what was dishonest [and] didn’t sit right with me and when they didn’t address it I moved on with my life.”

“A big section of the film panders to a very specific section of my dad’s fandom that still lives in the fantasy,” she added in a subsequent post, “and they’re gonna be happy with it.”