Janet Jackson admitted her claims that Kamala Harris is not black and has a white father were ‘based on misinformation.’
Jackson, 58, sent shockwaves through social media when she confessed her controversial views about the Democratic 2024 presidential nominee to The Guardian.
She said: ‘Well, you know what they supposedly said? She’s not black. That’s what I heard. That she’s Indian.’
‘Her father’s white. 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.’
In response to a whirlwind of criticism and disappointment with the popstar’s comments – which are similar to ones made by Republican 2024 presidential candidate Donald Trump – her manager issued a statement to Buzzfeed.
Mo Elmasri, Jackson’s manager, tried to clear the air by saying Jackson was misinformed on the matter.
She told Buzzfeed: ‘She deeply respects Vice President Kamala Harris and her accomplishments as a Black and Indian woman.
‘Janet apologizes for any confusion caused and acknowledges the importance of accurate representation in public discourse.’
She ended off the statement by saying that her and Jackson are ‘committed to promoting unity.’
But this attempt to save her image did not go over well with everyone.
One X user posted: ‘Janet Jackson sounded an absolute fool in that interview and I am very disappointed.’
‘We are less than 50 days away from the election. We gotta talk smarter!’
Another user posted on X: ‘Janet Jackson is one of the most influential people in music history.
It was simply irresponsible of her to repeat something she “heard” regarding the very thing that they use against Kamala! Her own race.
Harris, 59, was born in 1964 to Dr Shyamala Gopalan, an Indian-born cancer researcher, and Donald J. Harris, a black Jamaican economics professor.
The couple wed in 1963 and separated in 1971, after welcoming Kamala and her younger sister Maya, 57.
Gopalan died of cancer in 2009 aged 70, while Donald Harris, 86, is now a professor emeritus of economics at Stanford University after retiring in 1998.
Jackson’s late brother Michael faced controversy about his skin after it changed color from black to white over the course of his career.
He blamed a medical condition called vitiligo and denied bleaching his skin.
