Jaafar Jackson, the star of the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic Michael, recently opened up about the profound impact of having his cousins Prince Jackson and Bigi "Blanket" Jackson at the film's premiere in Berlin.
In an exclusive interview, Jaafar expressed how meaningful their presence was, stating, "To have my cousins there and my other family members, that meant everything. Because it is a family story, and it all started in Gary, Indiana, so it meant the world to me."
The Berlin premiere on April 10 was a true family affair, with Prince, 29, and Bigi, 24, joining Jaafar alongside his father Jermaine Jackson and uncles Marlon and Jackie Jackson for a memorable group photo. Jaafar noted the significance of launching the film in Europe, saying, "That was special, to be in Berlin and Europe. Especially, I know Michael loved Europe and Germany. He spent a lot of time there."
As the film prepares for its global release on April 24, Jaafar shared his hopes for audiences: "I hope they take away a deeper understanding of who Michael was from a child until his adulthood, but also have insight into all those big moments. What happened to the moments leading up to that. And really, I hope they walk away just dancing and inspired and wanting more."
Family members have been vocal in their support for Jaafar's portrayal. His father, Jermaine Jackson, admitted, "I thought I was looking at Michael. I started crying," when he first saw Jaafar in costume. He added, "He's a hard worker. He deserved the part."
Uncle Marlon Jackson also praised his nephew's performance, recalling, "I told him, I said, 'Jaafar, you are unbelievable.' Because he was so worried that he couldn't capture everything. He couldn't please us. Man, you're unbelievable. Trust me."