The Andrew Klavan Show Klavans On The Culture Ep. 3: Michael | Should This Movie Be Made?
May 7, 2026
A spirited debate about a controversial Michael Jackson biopic and its sanitized portrayal. They unpack casting, dance sequences, and the film’s sentimental tone. The conversation wrestles with whether art can be separated from an artist’s alleged crimes and how culture mythologizes troubled creators.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Biopic Sanitization Creates Hagiography
- The Michael biopic deliberately sanitizes Jackson, removing accusations and addiction to foreground his music and dance.
- Andrew Klavan and Spencer Clavin note the estate’s legal controls forced cuts and produced a hagiographic, old‑style musical biopic.
Pedophilia Is A Distinctly Grave Crime
- Klavan distinguishes pedophilia (pre‑pubescent abuse) from other sexual crimes and condemns it as uniquely grave.
- He cites settlements, admissions, and physical evidence drawings as reasons he finds the accusations compelling.
Dance Performance Salvages Weak Biopic
- Jafar Jackson’s performance and the dance sequences are the film’s strongest elements.
- Spencer praises Jafar’s dancing as electrifying and Fred Astaire‑like, even while criticizing the film’s tone and script.
