Tariano Adaryll "Taj" Jackson II (born August 4, 1973) is an American singer, songwriter, producer, and director. He is an original member of 3T, along with his brothers Taryll Adren Jackson and Tito Joe ("TJ") Jackson. His career includes work in television and documentary production, and he has appeared publicly as a spokesperson on behalf of the Jackson family. As of 2023, 3T were touring.

Early life and education

Tariano Adaryll "Taj" Jackson II was born on August 4, 1973, in Los Angeles, California.[1] He is the first child of Tito Jackson and Delores "Dee Dee" Martes. Through his mother, he is of Dominican descent.[2] He is the nephew of Rebbie, Jackie, Jermaine, La Toya, Marlon, Michael, Randy, and Janet. He has two younger brothers, Taryll Adren Jackson and Tito Joe Jackson ("TJ"). Jackson's parents married in June 1972 and divorced in 1988.[3]

Jackson graduated from Buckley School in 1991. He studied television production and recording arts at Loyola Marymount University, with a minor in music.[4]

Career

3T

Under the guidance of their father Tito and uncle Michael, Jackson and his brothers formed the group 3T. Michael mentored the group and signed them to his label, MJJ Music.[5] Their debut album, Brotherhood, was released in 1995. Its debut single was "Anything".[6][7]

3T recorded an album after Brotherhood, which was not released due to a strained relationship between Sony and MJJ Music.[8] The group later released Identity in 2004 and Chapter III in 2015. They have written and produced music for films including The Jacksons: An American Dream, Free Willy, Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home, Men in Black, and Trippin'.[5] Jackson has directed music videos and documentary projects.[9][10] As of 2022, 3T were touring and headlining concerts and music festivals.[11][12][13]

Reality series (2015–2016)

In October 2015, Jackson, Taryll, and TJ starred in and co-produced the reality series The Jacksons: Next Generation. The series aired on Lifetime (TV network) in USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Asia (2016), and South Africa from 2015 to 2016.[14][15][16][17]

Solo work and other projects

In 2014, Big Screen Entertainment Group optioned the rights to Code Z, a script by Jackson and the Brazilian Sco triplets (Thaisa, Thaina, and Thayana Sco). He directed the short film.[18]

In 2018, Jackson directed the music video for 3T's song "Fire". He also pursued photography; his uncle Michael bought him his first camera and video camera.[10][19][20] As of 2023, Jackson was working on a documentary series addressing public perceptions of Michael.[21]

Personal life

Family

Jackson married Thayana Sco Jackson on June 16, 2013, at Hayvenhurst, the Jackson family home. His uncle Jermaine performed at the event.[22] The couple have three daughters.[23] Jackson has stated that he experienced abuse from an uncle on his mother's side during childhood and that his uncle Michael was supportive during that period.[24][25]

In August 1994, Jackon's mother, Dee Dee, was found dead in her backyard swimming pool in Ladera Heights, California. In August 1995, he and family members filed a wrongful death suit against her then-boyfriend, Don Bohana.[26] Her death was initially ruled accidental. Bohana was later charged and convicted of second‑degree murder in 1998.[27]

Charity work

After the death of their mother, Jackson and his brothers launched the Dee Dee Jackson Foundation, a non-profit organization providing community and music therapy support to individuals who have lost family members.[28][29][30] In 2021, the foundation received a HOPEE Award (Helping Others Practice Enduring Empowerment).[31][32][33] Jackson collaborates with his cousin Prince Jackson to design a haunted house for Thriller Night, a Halloween event supporting the Heal Los Angeles Foundation.[34][35]

Advocacy for Michael Jackson

Jackson wearing a shirt depicting his uncle Michael

During and after the 2019 release of Leaving Neverland, Jackson participated in media interviews responding to the film's allegations.[36][37] He has stated that he believes the allegations against Michael were unfounded and has referenced FBI investigations that did not result in charges.[38][39] Jackson also commented publicly on Wade Robson, including Robson's attendance at his uncle Michael's 2009 memorial.[40] Jackson has said that his cousin Brandi had a relationship with Robson during the period Robson alleges abuse.[41][42] Jackson and Brandi appeared in Neverland Firsthand: Investigating the Michael Jackson Documentary, which addressed claims made in Leaving Neverland.[43][44]

Jackson appeared in the 2019 documentary Square One: Michael Jackson, which examined the 1993 child sexual abuse allegations against Michael.[45]

In November 2020, journalist Martin Bashir was criticized for his methods in securing his 1995 interview with Diana, Princess of Wales.[46] Jackson and his family subsequently announced an inquiry into Bashir's role in obtaining his uncle Michael's participation in the 2003 documentary Living with Michael Jackson.[47][48][49]

In August 2022, Rolling Stone referred to Harry Styles as the "new King of Pop."[50] The description was criticized by Jackson fans and by Jackson, who noted that the title was associated with his uncle Michael's estate.[51][52] In March 2023, Jackson criticized comments made by Chris Rock in a Netflix special regarding his uncle Michael and R. Kelly.[53]

References

  1. ↑ "The Jackson Family Tree, From Joe to Janet and More | Entertainment Tonight". www.etonline.com. June 27, 2018.
  2. ↑ "The bride is Dolores Martes". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. June 29, 1972. p. 12.
  3. ↑ "Michael Jackson's Nephews File Lawsuit Over Mother's Death : Court: Delores Jackson's family accuses her boyfriend of drowning her in his pool last year and complains that Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti won't prosecute him". Los Angeles Times. August 26, 1995.
  4. ↑ "THE Family Business : Michael Jackson's Nephews Put Music on Hold as They Fine-Tune Baseball Skills". Los Angeles Times. March 31, 1993.
  5. 1 2 Cohn, Paulette (October 2015). "Taj, Taryll and TJ — The Jacksons: The Next Generation". Parade: Entertainment, Recipes, Health, Life, Holidays.
  6. ↑ "3T - Brotherhood Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  7. ↑ "Remember Michael Jackon's Nephews 3T? Here's What They Look Like Now!". November 20, 2020.
  8. ↑ "3T ending hiatus to take up Michael Jackson legacy". AP NEWS. June 25, 2014.
  9. ↑ Média, Bell. "Michael Jackson's Nephew Fighting 'Salacious Myths'". www.iheartradio.ca.
  10. 1 2 Kanarek, Benjamin (August 9, 2018). "Taj Jackson of the 3T by Benjamin Kanarek for GQ Magazine - The BK Mag".
  11. ↑ "Concert Forever 90 à Strasbourg 2022 - Zenith Eckbolsheim : places, billetterie, dates, réservations..." jds.fr (in French).
  12. ↑ "Paul Elstak, De Kast, 2Unlimited en 3T op 10-jarig jubileum We Love the 90's". ad.nl (in Dutch). April 29, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Un concept de festival années 90 numéro 1 en France lancé par des alsaciens". www.marque.alsace (in French).
  14. ↑ "Get Your First Look at Lifetime's 'The Jacksons: Next Generation' | Entertainment Tonight". www.etonline.com. August 21, 2015.
  15. ↑ "The Jackson family to star in new documentary series The Next Generation on Lifetime". Digital Spy. December 3, 2015.
  16. ↑ "The Jacksons: Next Generation Exclusive docu-series premieres on Lifetime (DStv 131) on March 16 at 20:45". Modern Ghana.
  17. ↑ "'Jacksons: Next Generation' Tracks Tito's Kids to Stardom". October 5, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Big Screen Entertainment Group Acquires Thrilling Script From Taj Jackson/Sco Triplets". finance.yahoo.com. May 30, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Taj Jackson of the 3T by Benjamin Kanarek for GQ Magazine: Fujifilm X System / SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review". www.dpreview.com.
  20. ↑ s.r.o, RECO. "Taj Jackson | No legado dos Jacksons". gqportugal.pt.
  21. ↑ "Michael Jackson's Nephew Fighting 'Salacious Myths'". Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  22. ↑ Cardiga, Manuela (July 20, 2019). "Tito Jackson Has a Little Granddaughter Who Looks Just like Her Beautiful Mother". news.amomama.com.
  23. ↑ Mediabest (March 8, 2019). "Who is Taj Jackson? Michael Jackson's nephew and Thayana's husband". Big World News.
  24. ↑ Duke, Alan (May 16, 2013). "Nephew: Michael Jackson was my 'support system' when molested". CNN.
  25. ↑ Robinson, Nicholas (May 17, 2013). "Taj Jackson claims a family member molested him".
  26. ↑ EFFRON, LAUREN. "Looking back on the death of Michael Jackson's former sister-in-law". ABC News.
  27. ↑ FRANCIS, ENJOLI. "Tito Jackson and sons describe day of his ex-wife and their mother's murder as 'coldest' of their lives". ABC News.
  28. ↑ "MJ's Kids Throw Halloween Party At His Home In Honor Of Tito's Murdered Ex-Wife". October 29, 2017.
  29. ↑ Lippe, Jeryl (October 31, 2017). "Prince and Paris Jackson Host Costume for a Cause Halloween Party".
  30. ↑ "Tito Jackson's Sons Describe Day Their Mother Died As 'A Nightmare': 'It's Like A Kid's Worst Memory'". Essence. October 26, 2020.
  31. ↑ "Dee Dee Jackson Foundation". Dee Dee Jackson Foundation.
  32. ↑ "Hope Chat with TJ Jackson of Dee Dee Jackson Foundation". BlogTalkRadio. February 10, 2021.
  33. ↑ "Month of Hope founders announce award recipients". Tallahassee Democrat.
  34. ↑ America, Good Morning. "Prince Jackson to host annual 'Thriller' costume party at Jackson family estate". Good Morning America.
  35. ↑ "Prince Michael Jackson to host annual 'Thriller' costume party at Jackson family estate". X101 Always Classic. October 19, 2021.
  36. ↑ "Taj Jackson reveals details of his own Michael Jackson documentary in response to Leaving Neverland". Digital Spy. March 11, 2019.
  37. ↑ Bacher, Danielle (April 3, 2019). "Taj Jackson Seeking $777,000 to Produce Doc Series About His Uncle Michael: 'I Want to Get the Truth Out There'". Billboard.
  38. ↑ "Michael Jackson's Nephew Claims Star Was Secretly Investigated by FBI". February 28, 2019.
  39. ↑ Ekpo, Ime (February 28, 2019). "The Source |Michael Jackson's Nephew Taj Jackson Reveals the FBI Spent 10 Years Investigating His Uncle".
  40. ↑ "Michael Jackson estate sues HBO over documentary - National | Globalnews.ca".
  41. ↑ Lavin, Will (March 8, 2019). ""It's one-sided and biased" – Taj Jackson attempts to defend his uncle, Michael Jackson, against the 'Leaving Neverland' fallout". NME.
  42. ↑ Bacher, Danielle (April 4, 2019). "Brandi Jackson on 'Neverland' and Wade Robson: 'It's Very Upsetting to See What He Would Do to a Friend'". Billboard.
  43. ↑ "Michael Jackson's niece slams Wade Robson as an 'opportunist'". 7NEWS. April 12, 2019.
  44. ↑ "Jackson Family Responds to 'Leaving Neverland' by Releasing 30-Minute Documentary of Their Own". Peoplemag.
  45. ↑ ""Square One", el documental que "desmonta" las acusaciones de pederastia sobre Michael Jackson". abc. October 16, 2019.
  46. ↑ "BBC finds Princess Diana's lost note that it says clears Martin Bashir". the Guardian. November 13, 2020.
  47. ↑ "Michael Jackson's family says Martin Bashir 'manipulated' him". Insider.
  48. ↑ Reilly, Nick (May 24, 2021). "Michael Jackson's family call for fresh investigation into Martin Bashir's 2003 interview with singer". NME.
  49. ↑ "Michael Jackson's nephew claims Martin Bashir 'destroyed his uncle's persona'". The Independent. May 24, 2021.
  50. ↑ "Harry Styles Crowned The 'King Of Pop' By 'Rolling Stone,' Angering Michael Jackson Fans". MSN.
  51. ↑ "Michael Jackson's nephew Taj raging over Harry Styles being labelled 'new King of Pop'". MSN.
  52. ↑ "Michael Jackson's Nephew Taj Slams Rolling Stone for Crowning Harry Styles the "New King of Pop"". www.yahoo.com. August 23, 2022.
  53. ↑ Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (March 7, 2023). "Taj Jackson Slams Chris Rock for Comparing Michael Jackson to R. Kelly in Netflix Special". Complex. Retrieved July 1, 2026.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Jackson