Before Michael ever set foot on the stage, for years, Jermaine Jackson was the proud co-lead singer of the world’s most famous family band, the Jackson 5.
But as the years rolled by, he watched his younger brother step into a wild, monumental spotlight that completely blocked him out.
That was the reality for Jermaine Jackson. Decades ago, his older sister La Toya Jackson sparked a massive media firestorm when she claimed on television that Jermaine’s bitter resentment over Michael’s explosive, 50-million-selling Thriller success was an “absolute toxic poison” that fractured the family act. For years, gossip blogs painted Jermaine as a permanently bitter hater.
But history loves a twist. In a beautiful, full circle moment, Jermaine’s own talented son, Jaafar Jackson, was cast to play the King of Pop in the massive biographical film Michael. The casting choice stunned the world as many fans wondered if Jermaine was secretly furious about his own son playing his greatest rival.
Jermaine Jackson on Jealousy, Rivalry & Growing Up With Michael | In His Own Words
To understand the roots of the family drama, you have to go back to the very beginning. In the early days of the Jackson 5, Jermaine shared the lead vocals right alongside a tiny Michael. But as Michael grew older, his undeniable, once-in-a-generation talent pushed him straight to the front of the stage, leaving Jermaine trailing behind in a towering shadow.
The sibling rivalry hit a breaking point during the famous Motown Records split of 1975. When the family decided to leave Motown for Epic Records, Jermaine made the shocking choice to stay behind. He was married to Hazel Gordy, the daughter of Motown’s powerful founder, Berry Gordy, and felt a sense of corporate loyalty.
The remaining brothers formed The Jacksons without him and kept winning, while Jermaine’s independent solo career completely stalled. When Thriller exploded into the biggest album on earth in 1982, the immense gap between Michael’s global fame and the rest of the family caused a massive, passive-aggressive friction that lasted for years.
Jermaine Jackson – Word To The Bad Badd! – Michael Jackson Diss
Were Michael and Jermaine permanently on bad terms? Not exactly. Their relationship fluctuated wildly between brotherly love, and intense ego clashes.
The absolute lowest point came in 1991 when a frustrated Jermaine did something unthinkable. He recorded and released a literal diss track aimed directly at his younger brother titled “Word to the Badd!”. The song’s biting lyrics openly attacked Michael for changing his physical appearance and isolating himself from his own flesh and blood.
The brothers also clashed over business. Michael famously bypassed working with the hit music producers L.A. Reid and Babyface after discovering Jermaine was already in the studio with them, completely overshadowing his brother’s project.
Yet, love always won in the end. Despite the bitter public fallouts, they reconciled multiple times. Jermaine fiercely defended Michael against the press during his dark legal battles, and he was utterly devastated when Michael passed away in 2009.
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When the news broke that Jaafar Jackson was stepping into Michael’s iconic loafers, fans assumed old jealousies would spark a new war. But the truth is uplifting. Jermaine was ecstatically happy, spending over two years coaching his son and sharpening his musical talents for the role.
Following a private family screening of the movie, Jermaine openly wept as he watched his son channel the magic of his late uncle. He proudly declared:
“I thought I was looking at my brother, Michael… Jaafar, you were unbelievable. Thank you for continuing the legacy of the family and Michael. I am the proudest father on the planet.”
The rumors of modern family fracturing actually came from an entirely different direction. Reports revealed that pop queen Janet Jackson had a highly critical, tense clash with Jermaine after the screening, picking apart the film’s makeup and accuracy. Jermaine aggressively defended the movie, proudly telling Janet she was going to “miss this wave” and telling her to just hop on board.
Jermaine showed the world that family legacy is much bigger than old rivalries. By passing the torch to Jaafar, Jermaine didn’t just conquer the toxic poison of the past but he helped create a beautiful, final harmony that ensures the Jackson name will reign supreme for generations to come.