Questlove Raves Over ‘Michael’ Biopic: "He wanted to give his gift to the world"
The Oscar winner shared how much Antoine Fuqua’s Michael Jackson biopic impressed and inspired him.
Questlove speaks onstage during the "Inside AI's Future: Trust, Culture, and Agentic Commerce" panel at the HumanX Conference San Franciso 2026 at Moscone Center South on April 07, 2026 in San Francisco, California.
Photo by Big Event Media/Getty Images for HumanX Conference.
Questlove has seen Michael, and The Roots drummer was undeniably impressed. Posting about the film on Instagram, Quest shared his thoughts on the movie about the life and career of megastar Michael Jackson, admitting his early apprehensions and explaining why Michael eventually won him over and inspired him.
“Honestly? I was hesitant. I’m emotionally invested, and I was holding my breath,” his post begins. “But this project does the impossible: it strips away the spectacle and shows us the person. For the first time, we aren’t looking at the ‘THE KING’ — we’re looking at a human being.”
The Oscar-winning documentarian went on to say that while he did his fair share of nitpicking the film for historical accuracy, he eventually realized that Michael was meant to capture Jackson’s humanity.
“Most importantly, for those of us leaning into a higher consciousness, this film is a MASTERCLASS in how to channel a gift,” Questlove went on to say. “We’ve been fed the “Hard Work & Sacrifice” narrative for generations — the same one passed down from our ancestors and overseers. I’m ready to let that go because it’s not serving us anymore (living small not knowing who tf we are — and I just don’t mean “the talented” I mean in general — if you revel in fear and self doubt — then yeah 2026 is what you asked for and manife[sted] — correction manif**ked — we have to want a change now as bad as he wanted to give his gift to the world.”
For Questlove, Michael is an opportunity for artists and creatives to better understand what it means to tap into your gifts.
“This film shows that the true path isn’t just about grinding; it’s about KNOWING that you know. It’s about knowing that you know. Channeling that feeling into reality. It’s the perfect setup for what’s coming in the Earth, Wind & Fire doc — a shift from the “struggle” to the “manifestation.
“I’m going back to see it again. And again.”
Subscribe to Okayplayer newsletters to get more music and culture news delivered directly to your inbox. Join here.
newsletters.okayplayer.com
Okayplayer Newsletter Sign Up
All the best Okayplayer stories, straight to your inbox. Stay in the loop with a curated selection of Okayplayer updates — free of charge.
