Janet Jackson Did Not Approve Apology for Kamala Harris Comments, Rep Says

Janet Jackson finds herself at the center of controversy following her comments regarding Vice President Kamala Harris’ racial identity. These remarks raised eyebrows after an interview with The Guardian was published on Saturday.

In the interview, Jackson was asked about the possibility of having the first Black female president and expressed skepticism about Harris’ Black identity. She stated, “Well, you know what they supposedly said? She’s not Black. That’s what I heard. That she’s Indian.” Furthermore, she noted, “I was told that they discovered her father was white.”

Kamala Harris is biracial, born to Shyamala Gopalan, an Indian breast cancer researcher, and Donald Harris, a Jamaican economist. Gopalan, who passed away in 2009, emigrated from India. Donald Harris moved to the U.S. to earn a doctoral degree at the University of California, Berkeley, where he met Gopalan.

Jackson’s insinuations about Harris’ racial background echo past comments from former President Donald Trump. At the National Association of Black Journalists convention in July, Trump remarked that he “didn’t know (Harris) was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black.” He further questioned, “Is she Indian or is she Black?” suggesting that she only recently identified as Black.

After Jackson’s comments surfaced, an apology was issued on her behalf by Mo Elmasri, an Egyptian filmmaker who claimed to be her manager. He stated to Buzzfeed that the pop star’s comments were “based on misinformation.”

However, representatives for Jackson clarified that Elmasri was not authorized to speak on her behalf. Her management team corrected this information, confirming that her brother, Randy Jackson, currently manages her. They also stated that Elmasri has never worked on Jackson’s team.

Elmasri is credited as an executive producer on the upcoming TV documentary series “Janet Jackson: Family First,” which is still in production, according to his IMDb profile.

The backlash against Jackson was swift and fierce on social media. Users expressed dismay at her comments, emphasizing the potential harm of spreading misinformation. One user remarked, “The Janet Jackson thing really illustrates how damaging disinformation is,” while another added, “Apparently Janet Jackson lives under a rock,” sharing a clip of Harris addressing the need for better education regarding her identity.

Others weighed in, with one tweet stating: “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!”

This incident is another example of the ongoing discussions about race and identity within the public arena, showcasing the effects of public figures making unfounded statements. Janet Jackson, a beloved pop icon, now faces scrutiny over remarks that could potentially misinform her vast audience.

As tensions surrounding racial identities continue to unfold in various contexts, the importance of accuracy and sensitivity in public discourse grows more crucial. The backlash against Jackson’s comments highlights a pressing need for awareness and understanding, particularly among influential figures.

Source: USA TODAY