Michael Jackson and The Infamous Road Trip. Did It Really Happen?

Actor Joseph Fiennes became a household name after starring as William Shakespeare in the Oscar-winning film Shakespeare in Love. Now, production company Sky Arts features the actor in a British comedy drama. The story centers on a road trip taken in 2001 featuring Elizabeth Taylor, Marlon Brando, and Michael Jackson. In the 30-minute comedy special, actress Stockard Channing will play Elizabeth Taylor, actor Brian Cox will play Marlon Brandon, and actor Joseph Fiennes will play Michael Jackson. This announcement started an Internet frenzy and could not have come at a worse time, as Hollywood is receiving such negative attention due to #Oscarsowhite and the Oscar Boycott. There is outrage among Hollywood actors and the public because there is not enough opportunity for actors of color. When there are situations where a white actor plays Michael Jackson (who is Black) are taking roles that should feature actors of color, this casting just reinforces the idea that there are systemic problems from the top down.

But Joseph Fiennes doesn’t seem to see the problem with his casting. He made some comments about it the casting that made the public even angrier by telling ET that he is just as shocked about the role as the public. His justification for taking the role is since Michael Jackson had a light complexion, the public should go with the flow because he and Michael look alike anyway.

If Michael Jackson were still alive, it’s questionable whether he would care for Joseph Fiennes in this role. In a 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey his Neverland Ranch home, The Grio documents that Jackson made it very clear that he was not interested in being portrayed by a white actor. In the 90s, Pepsi wanted to film a commercial with a younger, whiter version of Michael Jackson, and he was not happy with this decision. He called it stupid and ridiculous. He also contributed to the statement by expounding on his life as a black male

“It’s my face as a child in the commercial,” Jackson said. “Me when I was little. Why would I want a white child to play me? I’m a black American. I’m a black American. I’m proud to be a black American. I am proud of my race. I am proud of who I am. That’s like you [Oprah] wanting an oriental person to play you as a child. Does that make sense? Please people stop believing these horrifying stories.”

However, members of the Jackson family are not letting this situation slide under the rug. TJ Jackson, who is currently the co-legal guardian of Michael Jackson’s three children, spoke out to EiT on this comedy film road trip

“It’s offensive to me and my family for my uncle Michael to be portrayed in a comedy taking place around 9/11,” TJ told Entertainment Tonight in a statement. “Like everyone else, he was distraught, saddened and trying to process what had just happened. Following the events of 9/11, my uncle, Michael, stayed with a family friend in New Jersey for a week before flying back. The rest of our family immediately took buses back to Los Angeles as planes were grounded. There was no road trip with Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando”

This is a bombshell! So the road trip never happened? There is no way to truly confirm the story because Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor, and Marlon Brando are all deceased. But TJ Jackson’s explanation makes sense. How could anyone function in all that chaos? How does one find comedy in such a crisis? Things were so hectic in New York City during the 9/11 tragedy, the idea of the three icons communicating enough to get together and travel outside of the city sounds like the stuff of fantasy than reality. Michael Jackson was a compassionate individual, so its impossible to see him having fun in such chaos.

[Photo by Vince Bucci / Getty Images]