Why Michael Jackson 'Totally' Forgave Dad Joseph Jackson Before His Death After an Abusive Childhood (Exclusive)

Staff AuthorFri, April 24, 2026 at 2:00 PM UTC

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Joseph Jackson; Michael Jackson -

Michael Jackson forgave his father Joseph for past abuse after becoming a father to three children himself

Joseph Jackson was both a strict manager and a devoted fan of the Jackson 5, aiming to protect his children

Michael's complex relationship with his father is explored in the new biopic Michael, now in theaters

Growing up, Michael Jackson had an unconventional childhood. He joined his family band, the Jackson 5, at just 5 years old, and under the iron fist of dad and manager Joseph Jackson, the group rose to superstardom.

Though the group was thriving professionally, the reality behind closed doors was different — in 2003, Michael claimed that Joseph was emotionally and physically abusive and forced his sons to practice their routines with a belt in hand.

Michael died in 2009 at age 50. But before he did, he made amends with Joseph, who died in 2018, J. Randy Taraborrelli, a longtime friend of the star and author of the 1991 biography Michael Jackson—The Magic, the Madness, the Whole Story, tells PEOPLE in this week's issue.

“It's really easy to paint Joseph Jackson as a villain because he gives you so much to work with. [But] as flawed as he was as a father, and Michael felt very strongly that he did many of the wrong things, [it was] for all the right reasons,” says Taraborrelli. “As he got older Joseph was a very, very different person. Michael told me, ‘I totally, totally forgive him.'”

Jackie Jackson, Tito Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Michael Jackson, Randy Jackson and Joseph Jackson ca. 1970 (clockwise from bottom left).Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

A big factor in Michael's decision to forgive his father was the fact that the “Thriller” singer had become a dad himself, to sons Prince, now 29, and Bigi, 24, and daughter Paris, 28.

“[Forgiveness] was not easy to come to, but once Michael had children of his own, that's when he really began to understand Joseph,” says Taraborrelli. “It was when he had his own kids and he realized that there was nothing that he wouldn't do for his kids. There were no obstacles that he would not overcome if it meant protecting his children. And once he realized that about himself, that's when he really came to understand his father.”

The author insists there was no bigger fan of the Jackson children and the Jackson 5 than Joseph, whose main goal in forming the group in the first place was to protect them.

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“Joe loved all of his children, and he loved the Jackson 5,” he says. “A big part of the reason for the Jackson 5 was to keep them off the streets. And it just so happened that they were good.”

Tito Jackson, Jackie Jackson, Michael Jackson, Jermaine Jackson and Marlon Jackson (L-R).Credit: Fin Costello/Redferns

Michael himself said in the 2003 documentary Living with Michael Jackson that he “totally” forgave Joseph for everything, but admitted that the abuse he suffered influenced the way he approached fatherhood.

“To this day I won't lay a finger on my children. I don't want them to ever feel that way about me,” he said. “He didn't allow us to call him Daddy, and I wanted to call him Daddy so bad. He said, ‘I'm not Daddy, I'm Joseph to you.'”

Michael's relationship with Joseph is explored in the new biopic Michael, in theaters now. The film follows the star from his working-class beginnings in Gary, Ind., to solo stardom and through his Bad World Tour in the late ‘80s.

Michael ends before the star was accused of sexual abuse in 1993, a case that was settled with the accuser's family one year later. He was later charged with molesting a 13-year-old boy, but he maintained his innocence and was acquitted in 2005.

For more on Michael Jackson, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, or subscribe here.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”