We Asked You: Should Jaafar Jackson Receive Awards Recognition for ‘Michael’? Here Are the Results

The biopic universe surrounding Michael Jackson took decades to finally reach theaters, but ‘Michael’ made its debut this spring after numerous delays and setbacks. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film chronicles the King of Pop’s journey from his early days with the Jackson 5 to his emergence as one of the most iconic entertainers in history.

At the heart of the film is Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s real-life nephew, who makes his acting debut in the titular role.

The significance of the casting was immense even before filming began, as Jaafar is the son of Jermaine Jackson and was reportedly endorsed for the role by his grandmother, Katherine Jackson, who stated he embodies her uncle.

Fuqua finalized the casting decision after an extensive search, and that thorough preparation seems to be yielding impressive results. The film has consistently performed well globally, approaching the $900 million mark and inching closer to a billion-dollar total.

With this momentum, we asked our audience whether Jaafar Jackson deserves awards recognition for his performance, and the response was overwhelmingly in favor. An impressive 96 percent of respondents indicated that his performance is remarkable and merits recognition, leaving little room for debate among voters.

The remaining responses were minimal, with just 1 percent stating they need to see the film before making a judgment, another 1 percent believing the awards conversation should focus more on honoring Michael Jackson’s legacy than Jaafar’s acting, and only 2 percent feeling that other performances this awards season deserve more attention. This leaves nearly the entire audience firmly supporting Jaafar.

This overwhelming support aligns with Jaafar’s recent success on the awards circuit. He won Best Actor at the 2026 Astra Midseason Movie Awards, a victory that came despite the film receiving mixed reviews, currently holding a modest 38 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Nevertheless, industry experts have pointed to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ as a model for how a divisive music biopic can still lead to significant acting nominations, and Jaafar’s performance seems to be following a similar trajectory.

Not all critics have been dismissive, either. Variety’s chief film critic Owen Gleiberman praised Jaafar’s performance in his review, highlighting that he captures Michael’s tentative, high-pitched voice perfectly. Such recognition from a prominent outlet lends genuine critical support to the awards case, even if the film itself has divided opinions.

Much of the ongoing discussion has focused on Jaafar’s recreation of the ‘Bad’ tour performance, with fans frequently sharing side-by-side comparisons of his rehearsal footage alongside Michael Jackson’s actual 1988 concert. These clips continue to fuel online debates asserting that any accolades heading Jaafar’s way are well-deserved, regardless of the film’s overall critical reception.

The disparity between audience enthusiasm and critical consensus seems to be precisely what our poll reflected, with fans overwhelmingly supporting the performance rather than the surrounding reviews.

Whether this support translates into actual nominations as the fall awards season approaches remains uncertain, but the data indicates that the audience has already made its decision. For a first-time actor taking on one of the most scrutinized roles imaginable, such backing is an impressive way to kick off a career.

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