Jaafar Jackson, the nephew of Michael Jackson, is making headlines as he steps into the spotlight portraying the King of Pop in the new biopic Michael, released on April 22, 2026. The film, which has drawn both attention and debate, features Jaafar in the lead role—a casting choice that has brought renewed focus to his family’s unique connection to the Jackson legacy.
Jaafar is the son of Alejandra Martínez, a Colombian-born woman who became part of the Jackson family through marriage. Alejandra moved to the United States at age 11 with her mother and younger brother, settling in Beverly Hills. It was there that she first met Randy Jackson, the youngest brother of Michael Jackson and a member of The Jackson Five. At 18, she had her first child with Randy—a son named Genevieve and a second child, Steven Randall Jr.—marking her formal entry into the Jackson circle.
Though her relationship with Randy was described as difficult and never formalized—Alejandra stated that he married another woman shortly before their child’s birth—she remained connected to the family. After a period in Colombia, including time in Arauca where she and Randy were intercepted by ELN guerrillas (an incident resolved with family intervention), Alejandra returned to the U.S. Under the protection of the Jackson matriarch, Katherine Jackson.
Following her separation from Randy, Alejandra began a relationship with Jermaine Jackson, Randy’s older brother and another member of the iconic musical family. The couple married in secret in 1995, a union that reportedly caused internal tensions within the clan and attracted significant media attention at the time. Together, they had two sons: Jaafar and Jermajesty. Alejandra also adopted a son named Donte, expanding her household under the public eye.
For over two decades, Alejandra lived in Hayvenhurst, the Jackson family’s iconic estate in Encino, California. During that time, she was a constant presence in the household, sharing daily life with Katherine Jackson and witnessing the rhythms of one of music’s most famous dynasties. She has described the environment as one marked by both external chaos and a deep sense of familial protection.
Now, as Jaafar prepares to embody his legendary uncle on screen, the spotlight has returned to his mother’s story—a journey from Bogotá to the heart of American pop royalty. Her experience, spanning two marriages into the Jackson family and more than 20 years living among them, adds a distinctive layer to the narrative surrounding the film Michael.
The release of Michael has reignited public interest in the personal histories behind the Jackson name, with Jaafar’s casting serving as a bridge between the singer’s enduring legacy and the next generation tasked with portraying it.
