Diana Ross looms large in the mythology of Michael Jackson, but the Supremes singer is nowhere to be found in Antoine Fuqua‘s biopic Michael, nor is Kat Graham, who filmed scenes as the Motown icon.

On social media today, including an Instagram Story post (see it below), Graham writes, “Ahead of the April 24 release of the Michael Jackson film, I want to share that certain legal considerations affected a few scenes, including ones I filmed with an incredible cast.

Unfortunately, these moments are no longer part of the final cut, though the team worked hard to preserve as much of the story as possible.”

Diana Ross held a crucial role in Michael Jackson's early career and personal life. Her alleged discovery of The Jackson 5 was a cornerstone of Motown's marketing and promotional efforts for the budding family band.

Furthermore, Ross shared the silver screen with Michael Jackson in the 1978 film "The Wiz" and maintained a close friendship with him outside the music industry, underscoring her importance to his narrative.

The film's March 2024 casting announcement also revealed other key roles, including Larenz Tate as Motown founder Berry Gordy, Kendrick Sampson as Quincy Jones, Jessica Sula as LaToya Jackson, Kevin Shinick as Dick Clark, and Liv Symone as Gladys Knight. All these actors, with the exception of Kat Graham, remain part of the blockbuster biopic.

Production of "Michael" has faced various legal challenges. Notably, an earlier version of the script required significant revisions to remove all references to Jackson's child sexual abuse allegations.

This alteration was necessitated after his estate identified a settlement clause prohibiting any mention of Jordan Chandler, one of Jackson's accusers, within the film's content.

Penned by John Logan, the biopic comprehensively covers Michael Jackson's illustrious life and career, spanning from his early days with the Jackson 5 in the 1960s to his impactful late-1980s Bad Tour.

Jaafar Jackson, Michael's nephew and son of Jermaine Jackson, portrays his uncle in the lead role.

The star-studded cast also includes two-time Oscar nominee Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Emmy nominee Miles Teller as entertainment lawyer John Branca, three-time NAACP Image Award winner Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Actor Award nominee Laura Harrier as Suzanne de Passe, and Emmy winner Mike Myers as music industry executive Walter Yetnikoff.