Abstract: This month, MJ Studies Today reflects on the renewed interest in Michael Jackson following the success of MJ: The Musical and the biopic Michael, and considers what these portrayals may leave out. While both have brought Jackson’s work to new audiences, there is no substitute for experiencing the original artist himself. Drawing on personal memories of being a fan, attending tribute performances and exhibitions, and revisiting Jackson’s own work, columnist Kerry Hennigan explores why his creativity, kindness and humanitarian efforts still matter.
Column by Kerry Hennigan, editor of the free monthly newsletter A Candle for Michael, administrator of the fan group “Michael Jackson’s Short Film Ghosts” on Facebook, and an MJ blogger on WordPress. Kerry holds Certificates in the Archaeology of the Ancient World and the Archaeology of Ancient Britain from Cambridge University’s Professional and Continuing Education unit and is passionate about Viking longships and the development of maritime trade routes from the Bronze Age to the Early Medieval period.
REFERENCE AS:
Hennigan, Kerry. “MJ Studies Today CXXIV: Michael Jackson: the real, the imagined, the re-enacted: one fan’s perspective on the current status of the afterlife of the King of Pop” The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies Vol 13, No. 1 (2026). https://michaeljacksonstudies.org/mj-studies-today-cxxix/
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Michael Jackson: the real, the imagined, the re-enacted: one fan’s perspective on the current status of the afterlife of the King of Pop.
By Kerry Hennigan
Photo montage compiled © Kerry Hennigan
“We, the dreamers, the thinkers, the academics, and the visionaries, to whom Michael Jackson should matter, are in danger of losing sight of exactly how he was an author, director, composer and poet. Especially the way he channelled his personal experiences and genuine love for people into both art and charitable works. That is so often becoming the bonus track when it should be the main score.
Have we already forgotten that Michael Jackson was so much more than his lucrative global brand?” [1]
Elizabeth Amisu, author of The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson and co-founder of the Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies, asked this question on the 56th anniversary of Jackson’s birthday. It is a question that remains relevant following last month’s celebration of what would have been his 68th birthday, particularly in the context of the success of the stage play MJ: The Musical on Broadway and overseas, and the global success of the biopic Michael — both authorised projects of the Michael Jackson Estate.
Given the renewed interest in Michael’s work, and the new fans who have been drawn to him through the success of these high-profile projects, one fan was prompted to observe that “Michael is having a moment.” But it is worth asking: how representative of the real man are the depictions of him that we see and hear on stage and screen? Are they doing justice to his legacy, or is there something important missing?
While this writer has enjoyed both the stage musical and the movie, and has seen a number of tribute artists, Amisu’s note of caution is an important one if the real Michael Jackson is not to be lost behind the personas presented by the performers playing him on stage and screen. No more than we would want to lose him behind the distorted and negative persona devised for him by less-than-scrupulous factions in the media over the years.
In writing this column on a monthly basis for ten years now, I have often found myself delving into the fascinating — but sometimes diverting — work of academic and non-academic authors exploring various aspects of Michael Jackson’s life and career. As a result, I have periodically found myself losing sight of the man I believe him to have been, the reasons why I am a fan, and what being a fan felt like during those first years following his death.
Back in 2009 and 2010, it seemed important that fans carry Michael Jackson’s legacy into an “afterlife” that was worthy of him as both an artist and a human being. To that end, I found myself travelling overseas to attend commemorative events and opening-night performances of Cirque du Soleil’s MJ shows — and quite a few subsequent performances as well! Of course, I also visited Neverland and added my flowers and cards to the large collection already left by others who had visited the gates before me. I even flew to Finland in 2019 to see the Michael Jackson: On the Wall art exhibition, which had toured London, Paris, Bonn and finally Espoo, near the Finnish capital of Helsinki.
This year, in 2026, I travelled to Melbourne to see MJ: The Musical before its season concluded in that city. It was a reminder of those heady early days, when the fate of Michael’s legacy seemed to be resting on the shoulders of his fans — old and new — and on the upcoming generations to whom we would introduce him.
Yet while Ilario Grant was brilliant in the lead role of MJ, at no time did I forget that he was a very talented actor, singer and dancer playing a role. There is simply no substitute for the real Michael Jackson.
Some years ago, when I attended a concert by a popular MJ tribute artist touring Australian cities, I was somewhat dismayed afterwards to see patrons buying DVDs of the tribute artist’s show. No matter how skilled the performer, what they had just experienced was, ultimately, an echo of the original artist. My reaction was to go home and rewatch Live in Bucharest, hoping that if those who had bought the tribute artist’s DVD had not already seen Michael’s celebrated 1992 televised performance from his Dangerous tour, they would soon discover it. [2]
Fresh, positive interest from enthusiastic audiences is something to be welcomed. My hope is that those who have discovered — or rediscovered — Michael through the stage play or biopic will reward themselves by revisiting, or discovering for the first time, the original artist in all his uniqueness.
Hopefully, too, they will learn about his concern for others: for the sick and marginalised, for the young and defenceless, and for people who simply needed someone to care. His humanitarian actions, many of which remain unknown to the general public, and the kindness and generosity behind them, take him beyond any simple categorisation as an artist.
Instead, they offer those willing to look beyond the brand, the controversies and the portrayals an opportunity to discover something far more important: the human being behind the King of Pop.
Kerry Hennigan
14 September 2026
Sources:
[1] Elizabeth Amisu “Heard it On the Grapevine”: Are We Losing Michael Jackson All Over Again? Published 29 Aug 2014. Retrieved 7 Sep 2026 from https://michaeljacksonstudies.org/heard-it-on-the-grapevine-are-we-losing-michael-jackson-all-over-again/
[2] Michael Jackson – Live In Bucharest (The Dangerous Tour) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxgo-Qu-ZZE
Illustration: Photo montage “legacy…” compiled by Kerry Hennigan using a professional photograph of Michael Jackson, edited with PhotoScape X Pro software. No infringement of original photographic copyright is intended in this not-for-profit, educational exercise.