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Janet Jackson’s “apology” for saying Kamala Harris was not black echoed Harris’ White House rival Donald Trump’s false claim that the singer was not approved, it has emerged.
The 58-year-old singer, whose brother Tito died last week at age 70, made shocking comments about the Democratic nominee when asked how he felt about America’s first black female president.
Jackson’s comments were made in an interview less than 24 hours later The GuardianA report was sent to Buzzfeed Through Mo Elmasri, apparently claiming to be his manager, he apologized for his comments.
The statement shared by Elmasri was reported by several outlets, including this one independent, She said: “She deeply respects Vice President Kamala Harris and her achievements as a black and Indian woman.
“Janet apologizes for any confusion and acknowledges the importance of accurate representation in public discourse. We appreciate the opportunity to address this and remain committed to promoting unity.
However, it has been reported that Jackson was actually managed by his brother Roddy, and unusually the “apology” was not approved.
Elmasree said Variety: “I will no longer work for her. After trying to improve her image in the public eye and with her fans, I was fired by Janet and Randy, something I don’t deserve.
The Independent Jackson’s representatives have been contacted for comment.
The “All For You” singer previously said: “She’s not black. That’s what I heard. She’s Indian. Her father is white. That’s what I was told.”
Jackson admitted that he “hadn’t seen the news in days,” but said someone had “found out” that Harris’ father was “white.”
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Harris was born in 1964 to Shyamala Gopalan, an Indian cancer researcher, and Donald Harris, a black economics professor from Jamaica.
Gopalan died of cancer in 2009 at the age of 70. Donald Harris, 86, is a professor of economics at Stanford University.
Jackson’s comments echoed Trump’s speech at the National Black Journalists’ Conference in Chicago in July.
The former president said:[Harris] Always had Indian heritage and he only promoted Indian heritage. I didn’t know she was black when she became black years ago and now she wants to be known as black.
He questioned: “So I don’t know, is she Indian or is she black?”
Trump added: “I respect anybody, but she’s obviously not because she was Indian all the way, and then all of a sudden she made a U-turn and she became a black person. I think somebody needs to look at that as well.”
Harris has spoken openly about growing up appreciating both backgrounds. He attended Howard University, a historically black college in Washington, DC, and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, one of the nation’s first black fraternities.
In 2021, she recalls her father taking her and her sister to see Bob Marley and the Wailers in 1978—her first concert. “We sat up in the back of the theater and as I watched the performance, I was in complete awe,” Harris said. The Washington Post At that time. “To this day, I know the lyrics to almost every Bob Marley song.
“My father, like many Jamaicans, took great pride in our Jamaican heritage and instilled that same pride in my sister and me,” Harris told the outlet. “We love Jamaica. He taught us the history of where we come from, the struggles of the Jamaican people and the beauty and richness of the culture.
