Just as “Michael” became one of the biggest music biopics in Hollywood history, Jermaine Jackson says a $6.5 million default rape judgment overshadowed what should have been his son Jaafar Jackson’s biggest career moment.
In newly filed court documents obtained by TMZ, Jermaine says he was blindsided by the default judgment during the press tour for “Michael,” the Lionsgate biopic starring his son Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop. He says the coverage ruined “what should have been a proud and important professional moment for my son and our family.” He added that he was “shocked and deeply concerned about the effect of those reports on my reputation and on the promotion of my son’s motion picture.”
Michael” had its U.S. release on April 24 and opened to $97 million domestically, the largest debut in music biopic history. It has since become the highest-grossing music biopic of all time, surpassing “Bohemian Rhapsody’s” $911 million record, with nearly $960 million worldwide. It sits at No. 2 on the 2026 worldwide box office chart and appears headed toward the $1 billion mark.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, the film traces Michael Jackson’s journey from his early days in the Jackson 5 through the Bad World Tour era. Jaafar received widespread praise for capturing his uncle’s voice, movements and mannerisms in his acting debut. Estate co-executor John Branca called it “the first time this story could be told. Not everyone else’s story, whether real or made up. Michael’s story.”
The lawsuit casting a shadow over that moment was filed by Rita Butler Barrett in December 2023 under California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act. Barrett, a former session musician coordinator, claims that in the spring of 1988, Jermaine forced his way into her Encino home and raped her. When repeated attempts to serve Jackson failed, her legal team was given court approval to publish a legal notice in the Los Angeles Times. Jermaine never responded, and on May 14, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge entered a $6.5 million default judgment against him, covering emotional distress, medical expenses and court costs.
Jermaine denies the allegations entirely. In his new legal filing, he argues he was never properly served because Barrett sued him under “Jermaine Jackson,” a name he says he legally changed to “Jermaine LaJuane Jacksun” in 2013, a procedural claim he’s now using to seek dismissal of the judgment and a chance to mount a full defense.
Audience reaction worldwide suggests the off-screen drama did little to dampen enthusiasm for the film itself. International markets have been a major driver, with strong performances across Latin America, Asia and Eastern Europe. Critics were largely dismissive, Rotten Tomatoes has the film at just 38% from critics, but audiences have kept coming back anyway. Branca quipped about the disconnect, saying of the critical reception: “How the hell these people have jobs.”
A sequel is already in development. For now, Jermaine is fighting on two fronts; in court to vacate the judgment, and in the court of public opinion, where his son’s star-making performance continues to draw millions around the world, lawsuit or not.
