If you’ve spent more than five minutes on the internet lately, you’ve probably seen that one viral clip. It’s Janet Jackson sitting for an interview, casually dropping a bombshell that sounds like something straight out of a Hollywood fever dream. She looks right at the camera and claims that the legendary Samuel L. Jackson—the man, the myth, the King of Cool—is actually her cousin.
Naturally, the internet lost its collective mind.
People started connecting dots that weren't even there. "Oh, the eyes!" or "I always thought they had the same energy!" Honestly, it’s one of those things you want to be true because a world where Jules Winnfield and the King of Pop share Sunday dinner is just a better world. But is Samuel L. Jackson related to Michael Jackson in real life, or is this just another case of celebrity "cousin-ing" where everyone in the industry is family?
What Janet Jackson Actually Said (and Why It’s Confusing)
In August 2024, during an interview with BBC Radio 2, Janet Jackson was asked about her family tree. She didn't just mention one name. She went for a trifecta. She claimed that Stevie Wonder, Tracy Chapman, and Samuel L. Jackson are all her cousins.
"He’s our cousin on my mother’s side," she said about Stevie. Then she added, "So is Tracy Chapman. So is Samuel L. Jackson."
She wasn't being vague. She was laughing, looking like she was sharing a fun family secret. When the host pushed back a bit, she doubled down, saying he’s a cousin, though obviously "not her brother." This sent fans into a frenzy. If Sam is related to Janet, he’s related to Michael. That’s just how biology works.
The problem? Samuel L. Jackson has a very different version of this story.
The Samuel L. Jackson Perspective: "Nope"
Sam Jackson isn't exactly known for being shy or cryptic. Back in 2017, long before Janet’s BBC interview went viral, he did one of those "Wired Autocomplete Interviews." You know the ones—where celebs peel off stickers to answer the most-searched questions about themselves.
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One of the questions was blunt: "Is Samuel L. Jackson related to Michael Jackson?"
His answer was even blunter. "Nope."
He didn't follow up with a "maybe through a great-aunt" or a "we’re cousins through the industry." He just shut it down. Even more recently, when the rumors flared up again following Janet’s comments, there’s been no official confirmation from his camp that his stance has changed.
Samuel was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee. His father, Roy Henry Jackson, lived away from the family in Kansas City and eventually passed away from alcoholism. Sam only met him twice. Meanwhile, the Michael Jackson clan—the Gary, Indiana crew—has a very well-documented lineage under Joe and Katherine Jackson. While it’s possible there’s a distant ancestral link (Jackson is, after all, a very common surname), the direct "cousin" claim doesn't seem to hold up under Sam's own scrutiny.
Connections That Go Beyond Blood
Even if they aren't sharing a DNA strand, the two icons crossed paths in ways most people forget. It’s not just about the name.
The 2001 30th Anniversary Special
Samuel L. Jackson was actually part of the massive celebration for Michael Jackson’s 30th anniversary as a solo artist. It was September 2001 at Madison Square Garden. Sam was there introducing some of the biggest acts of the night, including Usher and Whitney Houston.
He’s told a hilarious story about being backstage at that very event. He was standing there, minding his own business, when someone came up behind him and started reciting his famous "Ezekiel 25:17" speech from Pulp Fiction.
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He turned around, expecting a fan. Instead, it was Marlon Brando.
While that’s a Brando story, it happened in Michael Jackson's house, so to speak. It shows that while they might not have been family, they moved in the exact same stratospheric circles of fame.
The Super Bowl Connection
Fast forward to 2025/2026. Samuel L. Jackson has been vocal about the evolution of the Super Bowl halftime show, particularly after Kendrick Lamar’s performance. Sam noted that they studied the greats to prepare for the cultural impact of those shows. Who did they study? Prince, Beyoncé, and—of course—Michael Jackson.
Sam has always shown immense respect for Michael’s artistry. He views MJ not as a relative, but as a blueprint for what a global "cultural icon" looks like.
The Science of the "Jackson" Name
Look, let’s be real for a second. "Jackson" is the 19th most common surname in the United States.
If you put every famous Jackson in a room—Samuel L., Michael, Peter, Reggie, Mahalia, and Bo—the odds of them all being related are basically zero. In the Black community, the term "cousin" is also often used as a term of endearment or to acknowledge a deep communal bond.
When Janet says "he’s my cousin," she might be talking about a genealogical link that hasn't been made public, or she might be using the term in a way that reflects their shared history as Black icons who navigated the same industry for decades.
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Comparing the Family Trees
| Feature | Samuel L. Jackson | Michael Jackson |
|---|---|---|
| Birthplace | Washington, D.C. | Gary, Indiana |
| Father | Roy Henry Jackson | Joseph Walter Jackson |
| Mother | Elizabeth Harriett | Katherine Esther Scruse |
| Siblings | Only Child | 9 Siblings |
| Heritage | Gabonese (via DNA testing) | African American (mixed) |
In a 2012 episode of Finding Your Roots, Samuel L. Jackson discovered his ancestry traces back to the Benga people of Gabon. He even became a naturalized citizen of Gabon in 2019. While the Jackson family’s history is well-documented through the lens of American history, the specific African tribal links for Michael’s branch haven't been publically aligned with the Benga people in the same way.
Why Do We Care So Much?
We love a good "small world" story. The idea that the most "badass" actor in history and the most "talented" singer in history are related satisfies our need for cosmic order. It makes the world of celebrity feel like a small, tight-knit village rather than a cold industry.
But honestly, the truth is more interesting. They are two men who reached the absolute pinnacle of their respective crafts starting from very different places. One used his voice and feet; the other used his voice and a stare that could melt paint.
What to Take Away
If you’re looking for a definitive "Yes" on the DNA test, you aren't going to find it. Not yet, anyway. Unless Janet Jackson releases a 23andMe report showing a match with Samuel, we have to take the man at his word. And his word was a pretty firm "Nope."
Next Steps for the Curious:
- Check out Sam’s Finding Your Roots episode. It is actually fascinating. He goes deep into his actual lineage, and it’s a great look at how he discovered his Gabonese roots.
- Watch the 2001 MJ Anniversary footage. If you look closely at the crowd and the presenters, you’ll see the era where these two worlds collided most visibly.
- Stop believing every viral TikTok clip. Janet is a legend, but sometimes "industry family" and "blood family" get blurred in these interviews.
Basically, they are "related" by greatness, even if they aren't related by blood. And in Hollywood, maybe that’s the connection that actually matters.