Jaafar Jackson

{{Infobox person

| name = Jaafar Jackson

| birth_name = Jaafar Jeremiah Jackson

| image =

| caption = Jackson in 2014

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|07|25}}

| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|dancer|actor}}

| years_active = 2019–present

| father = Jermaine Jackson

| family = Jackson family

}}

Jaafar Jeremiah Jackson (born July 25, 1996) is an American singer, dancer, and actor. He is a son of Jermaine Jackson and Alejandra Genevieve. He released his debut single "Got Me Singing" in 2019. He will make his film debut by portraying his uncle, Michael Jackson, in the upcoming film Michael.

Early life

Jaafar Jeremiah Jackson was born in Los Angeles on July 25, 1996. His father is Jermaine Jackson of the Jackson family and his mother is Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza, born in Colombia,https://people.com/all-about-jaafar-jackson-parents-jermaine-jackson-and-alejandra-genevieve-oaziaza-8582999 who previously dated Randy Jackson.{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/jaafar-jackson-nephew-michael-jackson-biopic-b1056784.html|website=Evening Standard|accessdate=1 December 2023|title= Jaafar Jackson: who is Michael Jackson's nephew set to play singer in biopic?|first=Martha|last=Alexander|date=31 January 2023}} He started singing and dancing at the age of 12.{{cite web|website=Deadline Hollywood|accessdate=15 November 2023|title=Michael Jackson Nephew Jaafar Jackson To Play King Of Pop In Antoine Fuqua-Directed Biopic|first=Mike Jr.|last=Fleming|date=30 January 2023 |url=https://deadline.com/2023/01/michael-jackson-nephew-jaafar-jackson-portray-king-of-pop-in-antoine-fuqua-directed-movie-lionsgate-1235244128/ }} He also had aspirations to become a professional golf player.{{cite web|url=https://hollywoodlife.com/feature/who-is-jaafar-jackson-5017884/|website=Hollywood Life|accessdate=1 December 2023|title= Jaafar Jackson: 5 Things To Know About Michael Jackson's Nephew, 26, Playing Him In Biopic|first=Avery|last=Thompson|date= January 30, 2023}}

Career

Jackson has covered songs by Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye. In 2019, he released his first single, "Got Me Singing". He appeared in Jackson-related projects including The Jacksons: Next Generation and Tito Jackson music video "Love One Another" in 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.smoothradio.com/artists/michael-jackson/jaafar-jackson-age-parents-singing/|website=Smooth Radio|accessdate=15 November 2023|title= Who is Jaafar Jackson? Michael Jackson's nephew set to play King of Pop in biopic revealed|date=

31 January 2023|first=Tom|last=Earnes}} According to Empire, he "established a social media presence as a talented singer and dancer".{{cite web|url= https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/michael-jacksons-nephew-jaafar-to-play-the-singer-in-new-biopic/|website=Empire|accessdate=1 December 2023|title= Michael Jackson's Nephew Jaafar To Play The Singer In New Biopic|date=30 January 2023}}

After a two-year casting process,{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/michael-jackson-biopic-jaafar-jackson-b2272163.html|website=Independent|accessdate=1 December 2023|title= Michael Jackson biopic cast singer's nephew Jaafar Jackson in lead role|first=Inga|last=Parkel|date=30 January 2023}} Jackson was cast in the lead role of his uncle Michael Jackson in an upcoming biopic directed by Antoine Fuqua and distributed by Lionsgate.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/michael-jackson-biopic-casting-1235506538/|website=Variety|accessdate=15 November 2023|date=January 30, 2023|title=Michael Jackson's Nephew Jaafar to Star in Biopic 'Michael'|first=Rebecca|last=Rubin}} Michael's mother Katherine Jackson was quoted as approving of the casting, saying he "embodies" her son.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/michael-jackson-jaafar-jackson-michael-biopic-1234671064/|magazine=Rolling Stone|accessdate=1 December 2023|title= Michael Jackson's Nephew Jaafar to Star as Late Singer in Biopic|first=Althea|last= Legaspi|date=January 30, 2023}}{{cite web|website=BBC News|accessdate=1 December 2023|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64482522.amp|title= Michael Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson to play him in biopic|first=Steven|last=McIntosh|date=1 February 2023}} Jaafar himself wrote on his personal Instagram account that he was "humbled and honoured" to be cast in the role.{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/michael-jackson-biopic-will-star-his-nephew-jaafar-in-title-role-dwllxlwp9 |website=The Times|access-date=1 December 2023|title= Michael Jackson biopic will star his nephew Jaafar in title role|first=Kieran|last=Southern|date=31 January 2023}} Principal photography began on the film on November 27, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.{{cite web |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1133576-jaafar-jackson-looks-exactly-like-michael-jackson-while-shooting-for-biopic | title=Jaafar Jackson looks exactly like Michael Jackson while shooting for biopic }} Footage of Jackson playing the role emerged online shortly afterwards.{{cite web|url=https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2023/11/30/h7sj80lejp1d93j9qsin417dxp8jtl|website=World of Reel|accessdate=1 December 2023|date=30 November 2023|title=Antoine Fuqua's Michael Jackson Biopic Starts Filming in L.A.|first=Jordan|last=Ruimy}}{{cite web|url=https://hollywoodlife.com/2023/11/29/michael-jackson-nephew-jaafar-jackson-films-biopic-in-los-angeles/|website=Hollywood Life|accessdate=1 December 2023|title= Michael Jackson's Nephew Jaafar, 27, Looks Just Like His Late Uncle While Filming Biopic: Watch|first=Eric|last=Todisco|date=November 29, 2023}}

Personal life

Jackson has a brother, Jermajesty Jermaine Jackson (b. 2000), and several half-siblings from his parents' previous relationships.{{cite web|website=People|accessdate=15 November 2023|title= All About Michael Jackson's Nephew, Jaafar Jackson, Who Will Play the King of Pop in a New Biopic|first=Skyler|last=Caruso|date=30 January 2023|url=https://people.com/movies/all-about-jaafar-jackson-michael-jackson-nephew/}} His half-siblings on his mother's side, Genevieve and Steven Jr., are also his cousins on his father's side, as they are the children of his uncle Randy Jackson.

Jackson said he is inspired by his musical family, as well as artists like Bruno Mars, Frank Sinatra, and Stevie Wonder.{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1535134|website=Dawn.com|accessdate=1 December 2023|title= Like uncle like nephew… a bit|first=Peerzada|last=Salman|date=February 18, 2020}}

In 2010, when he was thirteen, Jackson's family was investigated by police and child protection officers in Encino, Los Angeles after he purchased a stun gun online.{{cite web |last=Goldman |first=Russell |date=March 2010 |title=Jackson Nephew, 13, Investigated for Playing with Stun Gun |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/MichaelJackson/authorities-investigate-michael-jacksons-nephew-jaafar-playing-stun/story?id=9992076 |accessdate=1 December 2023 |website=ABC News}}{{cite web |date=March 2, 2010 |title=Are Michael Jackson's Children Safe? Questions Raised After Stun Gun Incident |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/MichaelJackson/michael-jackson-children-safe-questions-raised-stun-gun/story?id=9995671 |accessdate=January 1, 2024 |work=ABC News}}{{cite web |last=Hyde |first=Marina |date=4 March 2010 |title=Jackson family latest: who stun-gunned Blanket? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/lostinshowbiz/2010/mar/04/jackson-blanket-jermaine-taser-jaafar |accessdate=1 December 2023 |website=The Guardian}}

Filmography

= Film =

class="wikitable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes ! class="unsortable" \| {{Abbr\|Ref(s)\|References}}
{{dts\|2026\|format=y}} \| {{Pending film\|Michael}} \| {{sortname\|Michael\|Jackson}} \| {{sortname\|Post-production	nolink=1}} \| style="text-align:center;" \| {{cite web\|url=https://deadline.com/2023/10/michael-jackson-movie-michael-universal-international-distributor-1235562789/\|title=Lionsgate's Michael Jackson Biopic 'Michael' To Be Released Internationally By Universal\|date=October 3, 2023\|first=Matt\|last=Grobar\|website=Deadline Hollywood\|accessdate=November 15, 2023}}

class="wikitable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

! class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref(s)|References}}

| {{Pending film|Michael}}

| {{sortname|Michael|Jackson}}

| {{sortname|Post-production

nolink=1}}

| style="text-align:center;" | {{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/10/michael-jackson-movie-michael-universal-international-distributor-1235562789/|title=Lionsgate's Michael Jackson Biopic 'Michael' To Be Released Internationally By Universal|date=October 3, 2023|first=Matt|last=Grobar|website=Deadline Hollywood|accessdate=November 15, 2023}}

= Music videos =

class="wikitable"
Year ! Song ! Performer(s)
{{dts\|2019\|format=y}} \| "Got Me Singing" \| Himself
{{dts\|2021\|format=y}} \| "Love One Another"' \| {{sortname\|Tito\|Jackson}} feat. Bobby Rush, {{sortname\|Kenny\|Neal}}, {{sortname\|Marlon\|Jackson}} & {{sortname\|Stevie\|Wonder}}

class="wikitable"

Year

! Song

! Performer(s)

| "Got Me Singing"

| Himself

| "Love One Another"'

| {{sortname|Tito|Jackson}} feat. Bobby Rush, {{sortname|Kenny|Neal}}, {{sortname|Marlon|Jackson}} & {{sortname|Stevie|Wonder}}