Janet Jackson incorrectly claimed Kamala Harris is ‘not Black.’ It sparked PR chaos

Janet Jackson incorrectly claimed Kamala Harris is 'not Black.' It sparked PR chaos

As a movie buff who has spent countless hours observing the lives of celebrities on the silver screen and beyond, I find myself deeply disheartened by Janet Jackson‘s recent comments about Vice President Kamala Harris. With a career spanning over four decades, one would expect that Ms. Jackson, an iconic figure in the music industry, would have learned the importance of education, empathy, and understanding.


In an unexpected turn of events, I find myself just as perplexed by the misleading statements attributed to me regarding Vice President Kamala Harris, as I am by the attempts to put these incidents behind us.

The renowned “Unbreakable” pop star is denying reports that she apologized for questioning Harris’ mixed-race identity in a recent interview, stating that the apology was not sent by her representatives, but allegedly by an individual claiming to manage Jackson.

In a recent interview with The Guardian, the 58-year-old singer expressed her views on the potential 2024 presidential election. When asked about Kamala Harris’s possibility of becoming the first Black female president of the U.S., Jackson expressed a differing opinion.

Jackson stated, “I’ve heard she isn’t African-American, but possibly of Indian descent,” reflecting rumors about the Democratic candidate’s ethnicity.

Iqbal stated that Harris identifies as being both Black and Indian, but Jackson firmly disagreed with this. The pop star asserted that Harris’ father is white, since he is of Jamaican descent, although she mentioned she hadn’t been keeping up with the news recently before reiterating her stance. Iqbal found Jackson’s response astonishing.

As a film enthusiast, I’d admit, the question you posed has me stumped. Frankly, I’d rather not speculate, for I genuinely don’t have an answer. Regardless of the outcome, I foresee chaos ensuing either way.

Jackson’s reaction stirred up theories about conspiracies and recent political debates. In the last few months, ex-President Trump and his running mate JD Vance have circulated misleading information regarding Vice President Harris’ mixed heritage. Back in July, Trump claimed that Harris “just so happened to become Black” and now wants to be identified as such. Later, in August, Vance told reporters that Harris changes her identity based on the audience she addresses.

Jackson’s interview remarks sparked widespread attention online, with some social media users commenting that she seemed unintelligent and naive, disconnected, and urged her to expand her knowledge.

Jackson’s representatives declined to address her comments in The Guardian or the subsequent online controversy, instead choosing to acknowledge that they recently lost her elder brother, Tito Jackson, who passed away last week (her other brother, Michael Jackson, had tragically passed away in 2009).

Following a storm of reactions on social media, several news outlets stated on Sunday that Mo Elmasri, who is said to be a representative for Jackson, apologized for the comments made about Vice President Kamala Harris. The statement released by Elmasri claimed that Jackson acknowledges her statements concerning Harris’ racial identity were founded on incorrect information, as reported by Variety. Furthermore, it was stated that Elmasri’s message celebrated the diversity Harris embodies and emphasized Jackson’s dedication to fostering unity and mutual understanding.

According to Variety, Elmasri’s IMDb profile previously stated that he is an Egyptian filmmaker and the founder of a consulting firm that has reportedly collaborated with popular celebrities like Beyoncé, Britney Spears, and Selena Gomez. By Monday morning, his IMDb page only showed his name and portrait.

I’ve always been just a supporter here, but let me clarify my role regarding Janet Jackson. Contrary to some reports, Randy Jackson, her older brother, has been her manager, not Elmasri. As for Elmasri, I can confirm that he was never part of the singer’s team. In an email statement to The Times, Elmasri himself explained that the Jacksons chose to remove him from Janet’s team after I attempted to help restore her public image.

He added: “My goal was to address the concerns raised by her fans and the public, who were surprised by her remarks. I continue to stand by my actions and support Vice President Harris.”

During Jackson’s ongoing “Together Again” tour alongside Wyclef Jean across Europe, some contentious remarks and public relations turmoil have arisen. As a five-time Grammy Award recipient, she is scheduled to take the stage in Paris on Wednesday, with the tour wrapping up in October.

Following the tour, Jackson starts a 10-show engagement at Resorts World in Las Vegas. This engagement includes a performance on New Year’s Eve, as well as eight more shows in both January and February.

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2024-09-24 00:01

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