Colman Domingo Speaks Out on ‘Michael’ Film Backlash, Responds to “Whitewashing” Claims Over Abuse Allegations

Actor Colman Domingo has spoken out in defense of the new Michael Jackson biopic Michael, after the film faced criticism for not including the sexual abuse allegations linked to the singer’s later life.

The movie, which is set for worldwide release today, has already drawn strong reactions from critics. According to early reviews shared on Rotten Tomatoes, the film currently holds a low score of around 40 percent, with many reviews pointing to its focus and storytelling choices.

A major point of criticism has been the decision to end the story before the allegations against Jackson became public. Domingo, who plays Joe Jackson, was asked about this during an interview on NBC’s Today, as reported by the outlet.

The host raised concerns that the film avoids covering the allegations, noting how important survivor stories are in public discussions today. Domingo was also asked how he responds to claims that the film leaves out key parts of Jackson’s history.

He explained that the movie focuses on an earlier period of Jackson’s life, ending in the late 1980s. According to Domingo, the story is centered on his development as an artist and his early family life. He said, “The film takes place from the 1960s to 1988, so it does not go into the first allegations in, what, 2005? Basically, we centre it on the makings of Michael. It’s an intimate portrait of who Michael is.”

Domingo added that the film’s focus is intentional and limited to that specific era. He also suggested there could be more story to tell later, saying, “there’s a possibility of it being a part two that may deal with some other things that happened afterwards”.

His comments follow earlier reports from Variety in March, which stated that the production spent around 15 million dollars on reshoots. The report claimed that early versions of the film did include references to the allegations involving Jackson, but those scenes were later removed.

The same reports also suggested that legal issues tied to a previous settlement influenced what could be shown in the final version of the film.

The biopic has also sparked mixed reactions from members of the Jackson family. Michael Jackson’s daughter Paris has publicly criticized the film, saying it contains “a lot of inaccuracies” and calling parts of it “full-blown lies.” She was not involved in the production.

At the same time, other family members have shown support. Some of Jackson’s nephews have defended the project on social media, saying the film presents a more positive view of his life and legacy.

With strong opinions on both sides and debate continuing online, Michael is now one of the most talked-about music biopics ahead of its release.

This situation shows how sensitive biographical films can become when they deal with real-life controversies. It also raises questions about where filmmakers draw the line between storytelling and full historical coverage. What do you think about how this film handled its subject? Share your thoughts in the comments.