The estate of Michael Jackson has rejected any official release or association with rapper Sexyy Red’s recent freestyle over the iconic “Beat It” instrumental, citing unauthorized use of the music.
On February 11, rapper Lil Yachty shared a clip of Sexyy Red freestyling explicit lyrics over the famous guitar riff from Michael Jackson’s 1982 hit “Beat It.” The clip, which quickly circulated online, featured Sexyy Red jokingly referring to the remix as a “Michael Jackson biopic sneak peek,” sparking immediate reactions across social media.
Fans were sharply divided. Some listeners laughed off the freestyle as harmless humor, while others particularly longtime Michael Jackson supporters criticized it as disrespectful to the late artist’s legacy. Calls to block any official release quickly followed.
By February 12, representatives for the Michael Jackson estate confirmed to Billboard that they were unaware of the freestyle and stated that the use of the music was unauthorized. According to the estate, no approval had been given, effectively halting any plans for an official release.
Michael Jackson’s catalog remains one of the most tightly controlled in music history. Unauthorized use of his work often results in swift legal and public responses from the estate, underscoring the ongoing tension between modern remix culture and legacy artist protections.
The incident also highlights how viral moments even those framed as jokes can raise serious legal and cultural questions in today’s music industry.
As of publication, neither Sexyy Red nor Lil Yachty has publicly responded to the estate’s statement.
Gwinnett News Report will continue to monitor developments surrounding the situation.
Gwinnett News Report 
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