“Michael ”Director Expresses Doubt Over Some Michael Jackson Allegations: 'Sometimes People Do Nasty Things for Some Money’

Bailey RichardsTue, April 21, 2026 at 6:47 PM UTC

0

'Michael' director Antoine Fuqua; Michael Jackson in 2009Credit: Tristar Media/WireImage; CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty -

Michael director Antoine Fuqua expressed skepticism about some sexual abuse allegations against Michael Jackson

The director of the upcoming biopic said that “sometimes people do some nasty things for some money"

Fuqua also shared more details about the Michael overhaul, which came after lawyers learned of a clause in a settlement agreement between Jackson and one of his accusers

Michael director Antoine Fuqua is sharing reservations about the long-standing allegations against the biopic's subject, the late Michael Jackson.

In a new profile for The New Yorker published Monday, April 20, the 60-year-old director shared new details about the massive overhaul Michael underwent last year after lawyers learned of a previously overlooked clause in a settlement agreement between Jackson and one of his accusers. He also expressed some doubts about the sexual abuse accusations leveled against the late pop star.

Jackson, who died in 2009 at age 50, was accused in 1993 of sexually abusing 13-year-old Jordan Chandler, and settled with the Chandler family out of court for a reported $25 million. The producers behind the already-filmed biopic had to rewrite and do reshoots after lawyers realized that the settlement included an agreement that the Chandlers can never be mentioned or dramatized in a movie, per a January 2025 report from Puck.

At the time, the outlet claimed the Chandler saga was a key "backbone" of the movie — which Fuqua confirmed while speaking with The New Yorker.

Antoine Fuqua at the 'Michael' premiere on April 20Credit: Julian Hamilton/FilmMagic

Fuqua said that prior to the legally obligated overhaul — which included additional photography totaling up to $15 million, per Variety — he did not plan to downplay Jackson’s controversies, instead looking to make a movie that may be interpreted as a “provocative defense” of the musician, per the magazine’s phrasing.

In fact, Michael originally opened with the 1993 police raid on Neverland Ranch, the singer’s infamous California compound, in the wake of Chandler’s allegations, according to The New Yorker. Said Fuqua: “I shot [Michael] being stripped naked, treated like an animal, a monster.”

Though he emphasized that he does not know the truth of the allegations against the “Thriller” singer, Fuqua did share some skepticism over some of the allegations that the star was sexually abusive (as detailed in the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland, which featured two of the star’s accusers). Particularly, the Training Day director said he has doubts over the intentions of the parents of Jackson’s accusers, including Chandler’s late father, per The New Yorker.

“When I hear things about us—Black people in particular, especially in a certain position—there’s always pause,” Fuqua told the outlet.

He also stated in The New Yorker profile that “sometimes people do some nasty things for some money.”

Advertisement

Jordan has lived out of the public eye since his settlement with Jackson and his father, Evan Chandler, died in 2009.

Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in biopic 'Michael'Credit: Glen Wilson/LIONSGATE

— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The Jackson estate has repeatedly denied abuse accusations made against the late pop star. He was acquitted of child molestation charges in 2005. Additional allegations were aired out in Leaving Neverland, which prompted an ongoing legal battle.

In the wake of the January 2025 report about the overhaul to Michael — once slated for an April 18, 2025 release — a source close to the production told PEOPLE, "The Michael Jackson biopic is not in total chaos.”

“The inflammatory headlines about the movie halting are simply not true,” the source said at the time, adding that “the film is moving forward,” with reshoots happening in March 2025.

Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in 'Michael'Credit: LIONSGATE

At the time, spokespersons for Lionsgate (Michael’s distributor), producer King and attorney Jonathan Steinsapir (who represents the Jackson estate) did not respond to PEOPLE's requests for comment.

Among the producers of Michael are co-executors of the Jackson estate, John Branca and John McClain. The biopic also stars the singer's real-life nephew, Jaafar Jackson, 29, in the lead role — along with a cast that includes Colman Domingo and Nia Long as Michael’s parents Joe and Katherine Jackson, plus Miles Teller as lawyer Branca.

Michael is in theaters April 24.

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”