In the history of the group The Jackson 5originally from Gary, Indiana, a complex relationship has been documented between two of its members: Jermaine Jackson and Michael Jackson.

From the first stages of the group, different testimonies and biographical stories have pointed out the existence of internal differences linked to vocal leadership and the evolution of the family musical project.

During the group’s formative years, the artistic structure was under the supervision of Joe Jacksonwho directed the presentations and professional development of his children.

In that period, Jermaine Jackson Not only was he the oldest of them all, but he occupied a relevant position as a vocalist, while Michael Jackson He began to gain prominence due to his performance on stage and his vocal range.

The mother of the family, Katherine Jacksonhas been mentioned in various biographies as a figure who early recognized Michael’s musical abilities.

As the group progressed in their career, their role in the performances became more visible, so Jermaine’s presence gradually shifted and resentment grew in him.

A key moment in the group’s history occurred in 1975, when the jackson 5 They decided to end their contract with the Motown Records label to join Epic Records.

This transition involved a reorganization in its professional structure and marked the beginning of a new artistic stage with greater creative control on the part of the members.

In that process, Jermaine made the decision to remain with Motown Records. This choice was linked to his relationship with Hazel Gordydaughter of the producer Berry Gordyfounder of the record label.

As a result, Jermaine continued his career with the previous company, while the rest of the group moved forward with the change of record label.

In the following years, Michael Jackson He began a stage of artistic consolidation as a soloist. Your album off the wall marked a transition towards an individual career, which was later expanded with the release of Thriller.

It is even known that during the production of This last album, Jermaine even told his brother that he would not surpass the success of Off the Wall. However, time proved otherwise, as it became the best-selling album in history.

Likewise, on February 28, 1984, during the 26th edition of the awards held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Michael won 8 awards and mentioned Jermaine in his acceptance speech, which was interpreted as a sarcastic attitude.

During this period, the differences between the brothers were described in various publications as part of the parallel evolution of their careers.

In 1991, Jermaine Jackson released the song “Word to the Badd,” a song that was performed in the context of his relationship with Michael Jackson.

The composition included direct references to aspects of the singer’s public life, such as his plastic surgeries, the pressure of the entertainment industry, and the perception of authenticity in the artist’s career.

The issue occurred at a time when Michael Jackson maintained high international exposure.

In the 2000s, during Michael’s legal troubles, especially the 2005 case, Jermaine publicly defended him. “My brother is innocent. It always has been”he said in an interview.

It should be noted that in his autobiographical book You Are Not Alone: ​​Michael: Through a Brother’s Eyes (2011), Jermaine describes both admiration and conflict.

“Michael was my little brother, but also He was someone I deeply admired. We had our disagreementsbut love never disappeared,” he said.

There he acknowledges tensions, but also makes it clear that he never stopped feeling closeness, even in the most difficult moments.