During a recent interview with CNN, Spike Lee defended Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” from critics who think the pop legend’s allegation of child sexual abuse should’ve been included in the film. Lee, who saw the movie “twice” and “loved it,” said that since “Michael” ends in ‘88, before the first accusation hit in ‘93, it’s pointless to complain about the omission since that part of Jackson’s life “doesn’t work in the timeline of the film.”
“First of all, if you’re a movie critic, and you’re complaining about the stuff— all this other stuff— but the movie ends at ‘88,” Lee said. “The stuff you’re talking about, accusations, happen [later]. So you’re critiquing the film on something that you want in, but it doesn’t work in the timeline of the film. But people showed up. Worldwide, people showed their love.”
He added, “I miss Mike. I miss Prince. I mean, these are my brothers. I worked with both of them. Both beautiful, beautiful people.”
While some critics are complaining that “Michael” chose not to cover Jackson’s infamous scandal, the decision was largely out of the filmmakers’ hands. Variety reported in early April that, originally, much of the movie’s third act was devoted to Jackson navigating the fallout of his first sexual abuse allegation. However, the Jackson estate discovered a clause in the settlement with Jordan Chandler, one of Jackson’s accusers, that barred the depiction or mention of him in any film projects. The filmmakers had to completely rework the ending and recenter the story’s dramatic tension around Jackson’s relationship with his controlling father.
As noted by Lee, fans remain unbothered by the rework. “Michael” debuted to $97.5 million domestically on April 24. Through two weekends in theaters, the biopic has grossed $183.8 million in North America and $423 million globally.
Lee and the King of Pop were long-time friends as well as collaborators. Lee directed Jackson’s 1996 music video “They Don’t Care About Us.” The Oscar winner also directed two documentaries about Jackson’s life and career: 2012’s “Bad 25” and 2016’s “Michael Jackson’s Journey from Motown to Off the Wall”