Janet Jackson admitted that her claims that Kamala Harris is not black and has a white father were “based on misinformation.”
Jackson, 58, sent shockwaves through social media when she revealed her controversial views on the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination to The Guardian.
She said, ‘Well, you know what they said? She’s not black. That’s what I heard. That she’s Indian.’
“Her father is white. That’s what I was told. I mean, I haven’t been watching the news for a couple of days. I was told that they found out her father is white.”
In response to a flood of criticism and disappointment over the pop star’s comments – which are similar to those of 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump – her manager released a statement to Buzzfeed.
Janet Jackson, pictured during an interview on British television, has claimed that Kamala Harris is not black and that the vice president’s father is white
Donald Trump said Harris “accidentally turned black” when she spoke to black journalists about her race in July, while the former president has since doubled down on her support
Mo Elmasri, Jackson’s manager, attempted to clear the air by saying that Jackson had been misinformed about the matter.
She told Buzzfeed: ‘She has great respect for Vice President Kamala Harris and her accomplishments as a Black and Indian woman.
‘Janet apologises for any confusion that has arisen and recognises the importance of accurate representation in public debate.’
She concluded her statement by saying that she and Jackson are “committed to promoting unity.”
But this attempt to save her image was not well received by everyone.
An X user wrote: ‘Janet Jackson sounded like a complete idiot in that interview and I’m very disappointed.’
Harris was born to Shyamala Gopalan, an Indian cancer researcher, and Donald Harris, a black economics professor from Jamaica (pictured together in the 1960s)
“We are less than 50 days away from the election. We need to talk smarter!”
Another user posted on X: ‘Janet Jackson is one of the most influential people in music history. It was simply irresponsible of her to repeat something she “heard” about the very thing they are using against Kamala! Her own race.
Harris, 59, was born in 1964 to Dr. Shyamala Gopalan, an Indian-born cancer researcher, and Donald J. Harris, a black Jamaican economics professor.
The couple married in 1963 and separated in 1971, after Kamala and her younger sister Maya, 57, were born.
Gopalan died of cancer in 2009 at age 70, while Donald Harris, 86, is now a professor emeritus of economics at Stanford University after retiring in 1998.
Jackson’s late brother Michael faced controversy over his skin after it changed from black to white over the course of his career. He blamed a medical condition called vitiligo and denied bleaching his skin.
Trump claimed that Harris “accidentally turned black” while speaking at a National Association of Black Journalists convention in Chicago in July.
He said, ‘She was always of Indian descent, and she was just promoting her Indian descent.
‘I didn’t know she was black until a few years ago, when she happened to become black, and now she wants to be known as black.
‘I don’t know, is she Indian or black?
“I have respect for both of them, but she clearly doesn’t, because she was all Indian, and then she suddenly took a turn and she became a black person. I think someone should look at that too.”
Harris dismissed the comments a few days later, accusing Trump of “the same old habit, divisiveness and disrespect.”
She added: “The American people deserve better.”
Trump is pictured at the National Association of Black Journalists event in Chicago in July, where he made comments about Harris’ race
The vice president has not yet responded to Jackson’s comments about her race.
Trump’s comments about Harris’ race angered many conservatives. Even his own supporters were said to be irritated that the former president did not focus on attacks on Harris’ policies.
Earlier this month, Trump appeared to reiterate his comments about Harris’ race.
“I don’t care what she is. I don’t care. Whatever she wants to be, it’s okay with me.”
Polls show the battle between Trump and Harris remains tight heading into Election Day on Tuesday, November 5.