Just one day before the Michael Jackson biopic Michael arrives in theaters, actress Kat Graham dropped unexpected news. The scenes she filmed as legendary singer Diana Ross will not appear in the final cut.
Graham took to social media on Thursday, April 23, to address fans directly. She explained that certain legal considerations affected a handful of scenes, including the ones she shot alongside an otherwise incredible cast. She noted that the production team worked hard to preserve as much of the story as possible, but ultimately, those moments did not survive the editing process.
The Kat Graham Diana Ross scenes cut from the film come after she confirmed her casting with excitement back in 2024. At the time, she wrote that she was grateful to play the legendary Diana Ross and praised director Antoine Fuqua for allowing her to support the retelling of such a pivotal era in music history.
The removal of Graham’s performance is not the only unexpected edit made to Michael. The film, which stars Michael Jackson’s real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop, faced significant legal hurdles during post-production. Earlier versions of the script included darker chapters of the singer’s life, including the 1993 allegations against him.
Attorneys for the Jackson estate reportedly discovered a clause in a settlement agreement that prohibited any depiction or mention of certain individuals in any film. That forced producers to scrap large portions of the original third act and return to set for additional shooting. The reshoots cost between $10 million and $15 million and delayed the film’s release by nearly a full year.
The final version of Michael ends on a high note, focusing entirely on Jackson’s rise from the Jackson 5 to his record-breaking Bad world tour. None of the legal controversies from his later life appear on screen.
With Graham’s scenes removed, it is unclear whether Diana Ross appears in the biopic at all. Ross played a significant role in Jackson’s early solo career, acting as a mentor and close friend. She presented him with his first major solo award and remained a trusted confidante for decades.
Graham did not specify whether her scenes were cut solely for legal reasons related to the film’s broader restructuring or if additional issues affected the Ross portrayal specifically. She did, however, express gratitude to the team behind the film and encouraged fans to see it anyway.
Michael arrives in theaters on April 24, 2026. The film also stars Colman Domingo, Nia Long, and Miles Teller. Early reviews have praised Jaafar Jackson’s uncanny physical transformation into his uncle while noting the film’s careful avoidance of any controversy.
For Graham, the loss of the role is a professional disappointment. For audiences, it is a missing piece of music history that will now never be seen.
