When the performance becomes the person: Fabio Jackson and the cost of celebrity impersonation

By Nomahlubi Charlie

A British impersonator, Fabio James, known as Fabio Jackson, is known for his striking resemblance to Michael Jackson, which draws the attention of millions of people who loved the late King of Pop. His career started very small as a TikToker dancing to Michael Jackson’s songs. By recreating Michael Jackson’s outfits, hairstyles, facial expressions, and mannerisms, Fabio Jackson gained millions of followers. What started as a TikToker making ends meet turned into a change in personal identity. 

Michael Jackson and Fabio Jackson side-by-side via TMZ.

While Fabio Jackson celebrates Michael Jackson’s legacy in his online content, the public knows little about Fabio James and knows more about Fabio Jackson. His own name, interests, and personality are often overshadowed by constant comparisons to Michael Jackson. The public fascination is not centred on who Fabio really is, but on how closely he resembles Michael Jackson. Fabio Jackson is no longer living as Fabio James, but Fabio Jackson.  Fabio Jackson losing his identity may not be something that many people may see because of his act of honouring Michael Jackson. Allowing Michael Jackson’s fans to feel as if they were living among him again, and Fabio being a fan, was the first step in Fabio Jackson losing his identity. When the Michael Jackson movie was in motion, Fabio Jackson auditioned for the role of playing Michael Jackson, alongside Michael Jackson’s nephew Jafaar Jackson.

With Jafaar Jackson chosen for the role of Michael Jackson in the biopic, Fabio Jackson, despite resembling the late Michael Jackson, lacked Jafaar Jackson's professional training. Jafaar Jackson was not chosen solely because he is related to Michael Jackson; he was chosen because he naturally shares the same facial features, body language, and mannerisms, ultimately making the transformation more convincing on screen. Before being cast, Jaafar Jackson was already a singer and a dancer. Although he had little acting experience, he had the musical ability and rhythm needed for the role.

Jaafar Jackson and Fabio James "Jackson" via TMZ.

Being an impersonator is like acting, and Fabio Jackson has adapted to the role of Michael Jackson; social media constantly accelerates identity replacement. Fabio Jackson may have started impersonating Michael Jackson for the right reasons at first, but now he is profiting from the late King of Pop’s fame by impersonating him. Fabio Jackson is preserving another person’s identity while sacrificing the opportunity to develop their own identity and live outside of being a Michael Jackson impersonator.

Edited by Ndyebo Magwevana