Whoopi Goldberg: Janet Jackson Deserves ‘A Little Grace’ After Kamala Harris Backlash

The View hosts have discussed Janet Jackson’s recent controversial comments about Vice President Kamala Harris’s racial identity.

In a recent interview with The Guardian, the singer, who is the sister of the late Michael Jackson, reiterated a misleading claim originally made by Donald Trump, stating that Harris is not Black. “She’s not Black. That’s what I heard. That she’s Indian,” Jackson remarked. She acknowledged her disconnect from current news, mentioning that she was informed someone had “discovered [Harris’s] father was white.”

Host Ana Navarro responded sternly on the show, emphasizing the responsibility that comes with a platform like Jackson’s. “What she did was spread misinformation,” Navarro remarked. “I think it’s irresponsible to use that platform carelessly to propagate a statement based on a racist allegation by Donald Trump. It was Donald Trump who attempted to suggest that Kamala Harris just turned Black.”

Trump previously created a stir with his comments, claiming that Harris had only recently “become a Black woman” in order to align with her political agenda.

Whoopi Goldberg defended Jackson during the conversation, stating, “You know, sometimes I’ve said stuff. And I was wrong. But people want you to respond immediately, especially when they come at you saying, ‘Hey, you’re not paying attention – you’re dumb, you don’t know.’ It can be overwhelming.”

Goldberg added that it is understandable when someone makes a mistake. “It happens to all of us, regardless of racial background. So, I think we should show a little grace here,” she encouraged, noting that Jackson is primarily a musician rather than a political figure.

While Navarro acknowledged the right of Jackson to support any candidate she wishes, she remarked that Jackson had yet to address the issue correctly. “We forget that we’re living in information silos. The media landscape is vastly different from just a decade ago,” said Alyssa Farah Griffin. “I assume she’s not consulting reliable sources.”

Sunny Hostin added her thoughts, stating that regardless of how Jackson identifies Harris’s racial background, “the very fact that she’s present in these discussions challenges the traditional societal norms regarding what a presidential candidate looks like in this country.”

Hostin, who identifies as biracial, continued, “That’s what holds the most significance. Individuals who are biracial or multiracial should have the freedom to identify themselves as they choose. It’s unfortunate that Janet Jackson, an icon, stated, ‘I don’t know, I haven’t been reading the news these past few days.’ I can’t determine whether this stems from misinformation or simply a lack of knowledge, but I feel there’s no need to give it this much attention.”

Recently, reports indicated that Jackson’s supposed “apology” for her comments about Harris was not sanctioned by the singer herself.

Several media outlets had reported that Jackson had offered an apology through Mo Elmasari, who claimed to manage her. However, it was later clarified that Jackson is managed by her brother Randy, and the oddly phrased “apology” did not originate from her.