Updated at 6:31 p.m. PT:
There’s some type of “Escapade” going on in Janet Jackson’s camp. Following reports that the Grammy-winning singer had apologized for saying Vice President Kamala Harris is “not Black,” Jackson’s team released a statement to TMZ on Sunday evening, saying the apology issued by talent manager Mo Elmasri was not approved by Jackson.
Elmasri is listed on IMDbPro as Jackson’s manager, but reps for the “Escapade” artist said she is managed by her brother Randy Jackson, and has no connection to Elmasri.
Previously:
Janet Jackson has walked back a controversial comment she made about Vice President Kamala Harris’ race.
In an interview published Saturday by The Guardian, Jackson told the outlet she heard Harris — who is of Indian and Jamaican descent — is “not Black.”
After facing backlash, the singer issued an apology on Sunday, Sept. 22, through her manager Mo Elmasri.
“[Janet] deeply respects Vice President Kamala Harris and her accomplishments as a Black and Indian woman,” Elmasri said in a statement to Buzzfeed. “Janet apologizes for any confusion caused and acknowledges the importance of accurate representation in public discourse.”
The Guardian article said reporter Nosheen Iqbal asked Jackson about the significance of Harris potentially becoming the first Black female president. The story noted that Iqbal posed the question because Jackson’s 1989 single “Rhythm Nation” includes a line about wanting to rid the world of “color lines.”
Jackson’s response, Harris is not a Black woman.
“Well, you know what they supposedly said?” Jackson began, “She’s not Black. That’s what I heard. That she’s Indian.”
The article said Iqbal corrected the singer by saying, “Well, she’s both.” But Jackson continued to push the right-wing conspiracy theory about Harris’ race.
“Her father’s white. That’s what I was told. I mean, I haven’t watched the news in a few days,” Jackson replied. “I was told that they discovered her father was white.”
Iqbal wrote about the Democratic presidential nominee, “It’s well known that Harris’s father is a Jamaican economist, a Stanford professor who split from her Indian mother when she was five.” The article also noted that Harris wrote in her memoir The Truths We Hold, “My mother understood very well that she was raising two Black daughters.”
The Guardian article went viral and Jackson trended throughout the weekend on X.
“Janet Jackson questions if Kamala Harris Is Black in New Interview, wow just wow!!” comedian D.L. Hughley, who endorsed Harris at the Democratic National Convention, posted on X.
“All Janet Jackson needs to know is Kamala Harris is blacker than Michael’s children,” added TV news producer and blogger Raveen Marie.
“Janet Jackson needs to issue an apology statement because that mess was ignorant. VP Kamala Harris’ dad is Black + it’s sad that this country is obsessed with being wrong + trying to tell her what she is,” Glitter magazine founder Nikki Fowler posted on X.
“This whole Janet Jackson thing just goes to show you how out of touch some celebrities are. I’ve always loved her but repeating lies!? Smh. If you don’t know about a subject, then don’t speak on it… especially with your platform. Educate yourself, please!” recording artist AJ La Joya posted.
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