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Actress Kat Graham confirmed via social media that the scenes she filmed portraying the legendary singer Diana Ross in the biographical film Michael, about the life of Michael Jackson, were not included in the final version of the film due to "certain legal considerations."
The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua and is set to be released in cinemas starting Friday. It stars Javar Jackson, Michael Jackson's nephew, as the global icon, Coleman Domingo as his father Joe Jackson, and Nia Long as his mother Katherine. The cast also includes Miles Teller, Laura Harrier, and Larenz Tate.
Changes in the Final Cut of the Film
Graham explained that the production team made efforts to preserve as much of the story as possible, but some scenes, including those she participated in alongside a distinguished cast, were omitted from the final cut. A previous report indicated that the initial version of the film included scenes addressing the child sexual abuse allegations faced by Jackson. However, the film was altered after it featured a character of an accuser who had previously settled with Jackson's estate under the condition that they would not be dramatized.
Background of the Relationship Between Michael Jackson and Diana Ross
Michael Jackson had a close relationship with Diana Ross since they met during his childhood with the Jackson 5. His brother, Jermaine Jackson, mentioned that Michael wrote the romantic song "Remember the Time" in 1992 while thinking of Diana Ross.
Reactions and Reviews
In a review of Michael, critic David Rooney described the film as "surprisingly moving," but noted that it might face criticism for portraying Michael Jackson in a way that could be seen as exonerating him, which may not be well received by some audiences.
It is worth noting that the film is approaching record-breaking box office revenues domestically, with expectations to reach approximately $90 million during its opening weekend.
This news has been re-edited based on a report published by hollywoodreporter.com, while maintaining the core facts presented in the source.
