Filmmaker Spike Lee Defends ‘Michael’ Biopic Amid Omission Controversy

Filmmaker Spike Lee has defended the new biopic Michael, based on the life of pop icon Michael Jackson, amid criticism over its exclusion of child sexual abuse allegations against the late singer.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film has seen strong box office response and stars Jaafar Jackson in the lead role. Addressing the controversy, Lee said the criticism overlooks the film’s narrative scope, which concluded in 1988 well before the allegations surfaced.

“If you’re critiquing the film for not including those accusations, it doesn’t fit within the timeline of the story ,” Lee told CNN, adding that audiences worldwide have embraced the film.

Lee also expressed personal grief over Jackson’s death in 2009 due to acute propofol intoxication. “I miss Mike. I miss Prince. These are my brothers,” he said, referring to music legend Prince.

Fuqua, meanwhile, said the omission was a deliberate creative decision , noting that the current film focuses on Jackson’s rise and stage persona. He indicated that later developments, including controversies, may be explored in a potential sequel. “It was important to show who he was on stage as a superstar and present the human side,” he said in an interview with Deadline.

Allegations against Jackson first emerged in the early 1990s, leading to a high-profile investigation that was later settled out of court without admission of guilt. In 2003, he was charged with multiple counts, including child molestation and administering an intoxicant to a minor. Jackson denied all allegations and was acquitted in 2005 after a widely followed trial.

Following his death in 2009, additional accusers came forward, reigniting debate over his legacy. The renewed scrutiny has also shaped reactions to Michael, even as the film continues to draw audiences globally.