Prince Jackson grew up without ever seeing his father perform live. Michael died in 2009 when Prince was just twelve years old. For fifteen years, that chapter stayed closed.
Then Jaafar Jackson walked onto set in full hair, makeup, and costume — AND EVERYTHING CHANGED.
Prince’s Emotional Reaction To Seeing Jaafar As His Dad
“It was really an emotional shock because I had not seen my father in a long time,” Prince said, visibly emotional during his ABC News interview.
“MY GUT REACTION WAS I REALLY JUST WANTED A HUG FROM HIM”
Jaafar just embodied him and brought him back in that moment. I had to tell him, I’m proud of you, you’re going to do great — but I need to step outside and get some air.”
He wasn’t alone in feeling it.
Michael’s original drummer Jonathan “Sugarfoot” Muffet showed up on set with tears in his eyes. He said it felt like being in a time capsule.
Michael’s choreographer Vince Paterson sat in the audience wiping tears away. The concert photographer who shot Michael’s tours looked through his lens at Jaafar and said simply — he looks like Michael Jackson, he moves like Michael Jackson, he is Michael Jackson.
Marlon Jackson watched himself depicted on stage and said it brought back every memory of the Victory Tour.
His voice cracked while talking about it.
Jaafar Performs As Michael And Steal Hearts
Prince said people who worked with his father on tour came up to him with the same message — when you saw Michael Jackson perform, he gave you a feeling. And Jaafar gives them that same feeling.
From homemade videos at Hayvenhurst to a $900+ million film, Prince called working on this movie one of the greatest experiences of his life. And for one afternoon on set, he got something he thought he had lost forever.