Golden Globes Awards Committee Rejects Michael Jackson Biopic’s Musical Classification

Michael Jackson’s highly anticipated biopic Michael has been rejected from the Golden Globes’ musical or comedy categories after an awards committee determined the film’s musical performances did not sufficiently advance its storyline, according to Gold Derby.

Michael Jackson‘s cinematic legacy now has a more complicated pathway to win awards on the big night.

The biographical movie about the King of Pop was submitted by Lionsgate for consideration as a musical or comedy, but the Golden Globes awards committee determined that the production did not satisfy its requirements for that classification.

According to an exclusive report from Gold Derby, committee members concluded that the musical sequences in Michael were insufficient to qualify the movie as a musical under the organization’s established guidelines.

The decision could create a considerably tougher path toward Golden Globe recognition for Jaafar Jackson, who portrays his legendary uncle in the film.

Rather than competing against performers in the musical or comedy categories, Jackson would face actors in the drama division, traditionally regarded as a formidable field.

The controversy centers on a fundamental question about the movie itself. Is Michael primarily a dramatic examination of an extraordinary entertainer or a musical experience built around his celebrated catalog?

The Golden Globes apparently believe the answer is drama.

Under the organization’s rules, “a musical can be a comedy or a drama in which songs are used in addition to spoken dialogue to further the plot.”

According to Gold Derby, committee members determined that the performances featured in Michael did not sufficiently advance the storyline to meet that standard.

It is a movie chronicling an artist whose recordings, choreography and elaborate stage productions transformed popular entertainment. Despite Michael Jackson’s enormous musical influence, the committee reportedly viewed the film’s songs and performances as insufficient to establish its eligibility in the musical category.

Lionsgate may still challenge the determination.

The studio is reportedly considering an appeal before the Oct. 31 submission deadline. Should Lionsgate pursue that option, the awards committee would review its arguments and decide whether to reconsider the classification.

It should be noted that Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) was classified as a drama, not a musical or comedy, by the Golden Globes. The massively successful film competed in the drama categories at the 2019 Golden Globes.

Without a successful appeal, Michael and its leading performers would also compete in the drama categories.

Actor Colman Domingo would not encounter the same genre-related complication in supporting actor consideration because the Golden Globes combine supporting performances across musical, comedy and drama productions.

Following the Golden Globe victories of Ray and Walk the Line in musical or comedy categories, eligibility requirements were revised to distinguish conventional musical storytelling from dramatic biographies featuring musical performances.

Subsequent productions including Bohemian Rhapsody, Elvis and A Complete Unknown entered the Golden Globes competition as dramas.

Fans suggesting there was “hate” behind the decision were definitely wrong in this instance.

The ruling against Michael is consistent with an established awards precedent rather than an isolated judgment about Jackson’s legacy.

For Jaafar Jackson, the film represents an opportunity to portray one of entertainment’s most recognizable figures while establishing his own credentials as an actor.