Beloved pop icon Janet Jackson left fans completely shocked over her eyebrow-raising comments during a recent interview. After facing a wave of backlash, the singer is now apologizing.
As we previously reported, in her expansive chat with “The Guardian,” Janet shared her thoughts on the upcoming presidential election, predicting “mayhem” regardless of who takes the helm. But when the conversation turned to the prospect of Kamala Harris — a Black woman leading the nation, Janet stirred the pot with her observation: “Well, you know what they supposedly said? She’s not Black. That’s what I heard. That she’s Indian.” The reporter, perhaps juggling disbelief and journalistic integrity, clarified that Kamala Harris boasts both Black and South Asian heritage. Janet, undeterred, responded, “Her father’s white. That’s what I was told. I mean, I haven’t watched the news in a few days. I was told they discovered her father was white.”
In the aftermath of the uproar, Janet’s manager, Mo Elmasri, stepped in to clarify that Jackson’s comments were “based on misinformation” regarding the Democratic nominee’s family and ethnicity. The full statement read : “She deeply respects Vice President Kamala Harris and her accomplishments as a Black and Indian woman. Janet apologizes for any confusion caused and acknowledges the importance of accurate representation in public discourse.” Elmasri added, “We appreciate the opportunity to address this and will remain committed to promoting unity.”
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room—or rather, the former president in the spotlight. Donald Trump has made Harris’s race a recurring theme in his critiques, prompting others to join the fray.
For the record, Kamala Harris’s father is Donald J. Harris, a Black man hailing from Jamaica who crossed paths with her Indian mother, Shyamala Gopalan, at the University of California, Berkeley, in the ‘60s. The couple eventually parted ways, but not before creating a daughter who’d become a trailblazer in her own right.
Harris has repeatedly acknowledged her diverse background, even facing off against critics like Trump. During a presidential debate, she even remarked, “Honestly, I think it’s a tragedy that we have someone who wants to be president, who has consistently, over the course of his career, attempted to use race to divide the American people. I do believe that the vast majority of us know that we have so much more in common than what separates us, and we don’t want this kind of approach that is just constantly trying to divide us, especially by race.”
Despite the noise and confusion surrounding her identity, Harris remains focused on the pressing task of steering the nation toward a brighter future. In the end, it’s clear that while misinformation may grab headlines, it’s the truth—and the commitment to unity—that will ultimately lead the way.