The pop star reportedly fired someone claiming to be her manager after he issued an apology on her behalf.
In an interview published over the weekend, Janet Jackson repeated a right-wing conspiracy, claiming that Vice President Kamala Harris was “not Black.” This has prompted outrage, but apparently not an apology from the music icon.
The controversy began with her interview, published in The Guardian on Saturday. When asked about the prospect of America electing a Black female president, Jackson said, “Well, you know what they supposedly said? She’s not Black,” she said, referring to Harris. That’s what I heard. That she’s Indian.”
Nosheen Iqbal then corrected her by saying Harris is both Black and Indian, but the 58-year-old singer doubled down. “Her father’s white,” Jackson said about Harris. “That’s what I was told. I mean, I haven’t watched the news in a few days. I was told that they discovered her father was white.”
Iqbal wrote that she was “floored” by the five-time Grammy winner’s comments, and asked the pop star if she thinks America is ready for a president who is a woman of color. “I don’t know,” Jackson said. “Honestly, I don’t want to answer that because I really truthfully don’t know. I think either way it goes is going to be mayhem.”
For the record, Harris has always expressed pride about being raised by both an Indian mother and a Jamaican father. However, it appears that Jackson was echoing false claims made by former President Trump during an appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists convention. At the time, the Republican presidential nominee claimed he didn’t know Harris was Black “until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black.” Harris later responded by brushing off Trump’s remarks, saying he was using her background to divide America. “It’s a tragedy that we have someone who wants to be president, who has consistently, over the course of his career, attempted to use race to divide the American people,” she said at their Sept. 10 debate.
Much like Trump’s comments, Jackson’s remarks drew swift condemnation across social media, with some calling her claims irresponsible and out of touch.
On the same day her interview was released, Buzzfeed and several other outlets published a statement from one of her producers, Mo Elmasri, who claimed to be her manager.
“Janet Jackson would like to clarify her recent comments. She recognizes that her statements regarding Vice President Kamala Harris’ racial identity were based on misinformation,” it read. “Janet respects Harris’ dual heritage as both Black and Indian and apologizes for any confusion caused. She values the diversity Harris represents and understands the importance of celebrating that in today’s society. Janet remains committed to promoting unity and understanding.”
But things took a strange turn on Sunday, when Jackson’s reps told Variety that Elmasri isn’t actually her manager — her brother Randy is and has been for many years. Her team also confirmed that the apology made on her behalf wasn’t made or authorized by the pop star in the first place.
After he was contacted by the Daily Beast about it, Elmasri suggested he had a falling out with the Jacksons over Janet’s false claims about Harris, and they parted ways. “Janet Jackson fired me due to disagreements between me, her, and Randy after her meeting with The Guardian and her unbalanced statements,” he wrote in an email. He added, “All support to Kamala Harris.”
The latest drama comes as Jackson promotes the second leg of her “Together Again” tour in Europe.
