No, Janet Jackson didn't apologize for Kamala Harris statements
Singer Janet Jackson has reportedly not approved an apology issued on her behalf over recent comments about United States Vice President Kamala Harris. The 55-year-old Grammy-winning artist had recently questioned the racial background of Harris, who is of both Black and South Asian heritage. The apology was issued by Mo Elmasri, who claimed to be Jackson's manager. Here are more details.
Elmasri's apology not approved by Jackson, say sources
According to TMZ, Jackson's team has said that the apology issued by Elmasri was not approved by the singer. Although Elmasri is listed as Jackson's manager on her IMDb page, it is widely known that her brother Randy Jackson is her longtime manager. Sources told Variety that Elmasri is not the singer's manager and was not authorized to speak on her behalf.
Jackson had questioned Harris's racial background
In a recent interview with The Guardian, Jackson had said about Harris, "Well, you know what they supposedly said? She's not Black. That's what I heard. That she's Indian." When the reporter clarified that Harris is of both Black and South Asian heritage, Jackson responded, "Her father's white. That's what I was told. I haven't watched the news in a few days."
'Jackson spoke based on misinformation'
Elmasri had earlier told Buzzfeed, "Janet apologizes for any confusion caused and acknowledges the importance of accurate representation in public discourse." Elmasri had said that Jackson spoke "based on misinformation" about Harris's family and ethnicity. "She deeply respects Vice President Kamala Harris and her accomplishments as a Black and Indian woman," Elmasri had said, adding that they will remain committed to promoting unity.
Harris's father is Jamaican-American; mother was Indian
Harris's father Donald is a Jamaican-American professor of economics at Stanford University, while her late mother Shyamala Gopalan was a renowned breast cancer researcher and scientist who hailed from southern India. Both of Kamala's parents immigrated to the United States.
Where did Jackson get the 'Harris is not Black' theory?
Jackson appeared to be parroting a right-wing conspiracy theory perpetuated by Harris's presidential opponent Donald Trump. While appearing before the National Association of Black Journalists in July, Trump had said, "(Harris) was always of Indian heritage and she was promoting Indian heritage. I didn't know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black, and now she wants to be known as Black."
