Janet Jackson is a pop icon known for her decades-long career and iconic dance moves. She has recently been pulled into some serious political drama. We’re talking about a supposed “apology” related to some questionable comments she made about none other than Vice President Kamala Harris’ racial background.
But hold up! There’s more to this story than meets the eye. While the apology, which surfaced online, looked like damage control from the singer, Jackson’s team has come forward to shut down the entire thing. Turns out, the apology wasn’t even authorized. So, who’s behind it? And how did things go so off the rails?
Janet Jackson Never Issued An Apology For Her Comments On Kamala Harris
So here’s what happened. A man named Mo Elmasri, claiming to be Janet Jackson’s manager, issued an apology on behalf of the singer. It read: “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.”
“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.”
Jackson’s actual team confirmed that Elmasri was not her manager, and that he had no right to speak for her. Randy Jackson, Janet’s brother and her real manager, has been at the helm of her career for years.
The siblings, mourning the recent passing of their brother Tito, have remained unavailable for comment. It leaves us wondering: why was Elmasri even stepping in, and what does he gain from it?
What Did Janet Jackson Say About Kamala Harris’ Racial Identity?
The whole mess started when Janet Jackson made some ill-informed remarks about Kamala Harris in an interview with The Guardian. She questioned Harris’ racial identity. She stated, “Well, you know what they supposedly said? She’s not Black. That’s what I heard. That she’s Indian.”
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When corrected about Harris being both Black and Indian, Jackson pushed back with, “Her father’s white. That’s what I was told.” To make things worse, her comments echoed rhetoric that ex-president Donald Trump had used during his campaign, questioning Harris’ Black identity.
“She was only promoting Indian heritage,” Trump said in an interview at the National Association of Black Journalists convention. “I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago, when she happened to turn Black, and now she wants to be known as Black…Is she Indian or is she Black?“
