Kat Graham's Michael Jackson Role Cut, Biopic Hits Theaters

0:00It's April 23rd. This is entertainment and celebrity news, AI-powered stories from the world of fame. I'm Cory with the story. Cat Graham just dropped some tough news about the Michael Jackson biopic called Michael. She was set to play Diana Ross, but her scenes got cut right before the film's April 24th release. Legal issues forced the change, and she shared that on X, saying the team tried to keep as much stories as possible. Those scenes involved her with the stacked cast, but now they're gone from the final cut. The movie's first part focuses on Jackson's early days, with the Jackson 5 up to 1988, starring his nephew Jafar as Michael, plus, Coleman Domingo as Dad Joe and Neal Long as Mom Catherine. Fans are bummed in the comments, missing that Ross and Jackson friendship from their Wednesdays and beyond. The biopics had a rocky road already, with critics calling it a whitewash, family-like Paris Jackson speaking out, and debates over skipping abuse, Halligaylin. Turns out, a settlement clause from the 90s blocked any mention of key figures in those

1:03claims, so directors reworked everything, even scrapping, a Neverland search scene. Cast members like Domingo defended as an intimate look at Young Michael's rise, told through his eyes. With Lionsgate backing it via the estate, Michael hits theaters Friday, promising fresh takes on his offstage life and early hits. Keep an eye on how audiences react to this origin story, amid all the noise.