Jaafar Jeremiah Jackson (born July 25, 1996) is an American singer, dancer, and actor. A member of the Jackson family, he released his debut single "Got Me Singing" in 2019 and gained widespread recognition for playing his late uncle Michael Jackson in the biographical movie Michael (2026) which grossed over $1 billion worldwide.
Born on July 25, 1996 in Los Angeles, California, Jaafar is the son of Jermaine Jackson—an original member of the Jackson 5 and Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza—a fashion designer born in Colombia. Through both of his parents, he has 11 siblings–nine brothers and two sisters.
Growing up surrounded by music royalty, he began singing and dancing at the age of 12. Before fully committing to a career in the performing arts, he had early aspirations of becoming a professional golfer.
As a teenager, Jaafar appeared alongside members of his extended family in reality television productions, including Living with the Jacksons (2015) and The Jacksons: Next Generation.
Jaafar launched his solo music career in 2019 with his debut single, "Got Me Singing", which showcased his R&B and pop vocals, heavily inspired by classical artists such as Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder. He worked on an early studio album project titled Famous and appeared in family-related music projects, including Tito Jackson's 2021 music video "Love One Another".
After an extensive two-year casting search, Jaafar was selected in late 2023 to play the lead role in the Lionsgate/Universal Pictures biographical movie Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua. Family matriarch Katherine Jackson approved his casting, noting his natural likeness, vocal range, and dance movement mirroring his uncle.
Following its release, the movie became a major box office success, grossing over $1 billion worldwide and earning Jaafar praise for his transformative performance. His work in the role earned him recognition at midseason honors, including the Astra Midseason Movie Award for Best Actor.
He is officially set to appear in Supermax, an upcoming action thriller movie alongside Will Smith, AnnaSophia Robb, and Jason Clarke.
Jaafar is of African-American and Colombian descent. He has a younger full brother, Jermajesty Jermaine Jackson (born 2000). He also has several half-siblings through both parents. Notably, prior to her marriage to Jermaine, his mother was in a relationship with Jermaine’s younger brother, Randy Jackson, with whom she had two children, Genevieve Katherine Jackson (born 1989) and Steven Randall "Randy" Jackson, Jr. (born 1992), making Jaafar's half-siblings also his first cousins.
In March 2010, when Jaafar was 13 years old, he made headlines after an incident at the Jackson family's Encino, California home. According to reports at the time, Jaafar had bought a stun gun online. Authorities—including local police and child protective services—were called to inspect the premises following reports that the device had been displayed or used around his younger cousins, including Michael Jackson's son Blanket.
Jaafar has been in a relationship with his partner, Maddie Simpson, since 2016. The couple got engaged in August 2024. He was raised Muslim and completed the spiritual pilgrimage of Umrah in Saudi Arabia in early 2020.
Despite his high-profile Hollywood breakthrough starring as his uncle in the 2026 biopic Michael, Jaafar keeps a low public profile, rarely sharing personal details on social media and keeping his relationship out of the spotlight.