Janet Jackson's false claims about Vice President Kamala Harris are now, in a bizarre turn of events, as confusing as efforts to move past them.
The “Unbreakable” pop superstar is distancing herself from reports that she apologized after questioning Harris’s mixed-race identity in a recent interview. Longtime representatives for Jackson told The Times on Monday that the apology came not from her team but from a man who claimed to be the singer’s manager.
In a wide-ranging interview with The Guardian published over the weekend, the 58-year-old singer shared her thoughts on the 2024 presidential election. When the Guardian’s Nosheen Iqbal pointed out that Harris could become the first black woman president of the United States, Jackson responded the opposite.
“She’s not black. That’s what I heard,” Jackson said, echoing conspiracy theories about the Democratic candidate. “That she’s Indian.”
Iqbal said Harris is black and Indian, but Jackson insisted. The “Control” singer claimed Harris’ father is white (he’s Jamaican), but admitted she “hasn’t watched the news in days” before insisting again. Iqbal wrote that Jackson’s response “left her stunned.”
The singer added: “I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t want to answer that because I really don’t know. I think either way it’s all going to be chaos.”
With her response, Jackson evoked conspiracy theories and recent political speeches. In recent months, former President Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance have also spread misinformation about Harris’ mixed-race identity. In July, Trump claimed that Harris “became black and now wants to be known as black.” Vance told reporters in August that Harris “pretends to be who she is depending on the audience she’s in front of.”
Jackson's comments in the interview quickly went viral. Some critics on social media tweeted that she “looked dumb and super ignorant,” “out of touch,” and called on the singer to educate herself.
Jackson's representatives did not comment on the singer's remarks in The Guardian or the subsequent online backlash, but noted that she lost her older brother, Tito Jackson, last week (her older brother, Michael Jackson, died in 2009).
Following the social media firestorm, multiple outlets reported Sunday that a purported representative for Jackson named Mo Elmasri had issued an apology for Harris' comments on behalf of the pop star. The statement shared by Elmasri said Jackson “acknowledges that his statements regarding Vice President Kamala Harris' racial identity were based on misinformation,” according to Variety. The missive also praised “the diversity that Harris represents” and touted Jackson's commitment to “promoting unity and understanding.”
Variety reported that Elmasri’s IMDb bio described him as an Egyptian filmmaker and the founder of a consulting firm who has reportedly worked with other global stars including Beyoncé, Britney Spears and Selena Gomez. By late Monday morning, Elmasri’s IMDb page had been deleted, except for his name and photo.
Jackson's representatives told The Times that her older brother, Randy Jackson, has been her manager and that Elmasri has never been associated with the singer. In an emailed statement to The Times, Elmasri said the Jacksons “fired me from the [Janet’s] team after I tried to repair their public image.”
He added: “My goal was to address the concerns raised by her supporters and the public, who were shocked by her comments. I continue to stand by my actions and support Vice President Harris.”
Jackson's controversial comments and public relations turmoil come as she continues her Together Again tour with Wyclef Jean in Europe. The five-time Grammy winner will perform in Paris on Wednesday before wrapping up the tour in October.
Following the tour, Jackson will begin a 10-show residency at the Worlds Resort in Las Vegas. He will perform on New Year's Eve and play eight more dates in January and February.
