An apology issued on behalf of Janet Jackson after she made comments about Kamala Harris’s racial background was unauthorised, it is understood.
In an interview published in the Guardian, the 58-year-old singer repeated the false claim that the vice president “is not black”.
A statement said to have been shared on Jackson’s behalf later stated her comments were wrong and “based on misinformation”.
The statement had come from Mo Elmasri, who said he was Jackson’s manager.
First shared with Buzzfeed, the statement read: “Janet Jackson would like to clarify her recent comments. She recognises that her statements regarding Vice President Kamala Harris’ racial identity were based on misinformation.
“Janet respects Harris’ dual heritage as both Black and Indian and apologises for any confusion caused. She values the diversity Harris represents and understands the importance of celebrating that in today’s society.
“Janet remains committed to promoting unity and understanding.”
Image: Kamala Harris’ father is Jamaican and her mother was Indian Pic: Reuters
Sky News understands that representatives for Jackson did not authorise the release of the statement.
The singer is currently managed by her brother Randy.
Mr Elmasri has since claimed he was “fired” due to what he called “attempts to improve [Janet’s] image in front of public opinion and her fans”.
He went on to offer his support to Ms Harris, in a statement to Sky News.
Sky News has contacted Jackson’s representatives for a response to Mr Elmasri’s claims.
Jackson’s original comments about Ms Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, were in response to a question from a Guardian journalist about the potential for the US to have its first black female president.
Jackson reportedly said: “Well, you know what they supposedly said? She’s not black. That’s what I heard. That she’s Indian.”
When informed by interviewer Nosheen Iqbal that Ms Harris’s mother was Indian and her father is Jamaican, Jackson said: “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 that they discovered her father was white.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Trump questions Kamala Harris’s racial identity
Ms Harris’s father Donald J Harris, 86, is an economist and Stanford University professor emeritus, who was born in Jamaica and is black.
Her mother Shyamala Gopalan, a cancer researcher, was born in southern India and died in 2009 aged 70.
Jackson’s reported comments come after Donald Trump said Ms Harris had “turned black” as he addressed the National Association of Black Journalists convention in July.
“She was always of Indian heritage, and she was only promoting the Indian heritage,” the Republican presidential nominee said.
“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. So, I don’t know, is she Indian or is she black?”
Jackson is currently promoting the European leg of her Together Again tour and a forthcoming residency in Las Vegas.
Her older brother Tito – who was a member of the Jackson 5 – died last week aged 70.
News
Olivia Dunne gushes about meeting Travis Kelce: ‘He’s actually the man’..
Olivia Dunne shouldn’t have any problem getting Taylor Swift tickets. Dunne, the NIL star and gymnast at LSU, raved about Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who is dating Swift, after getting a chance to meet him with her own boyfriend, Paul Skenes,…
Jennifer Aniston Confirms Longstanding Rumor About Her Feelings Toward David Schwimmer
“Friends” was one of the most critically acclaimed sitcoms that aired in the ’90s. The iconic television sitcom landscape has changed ever since its release. The show, which went down as one of the most popular television series in American…
Elon Musk has started a survey campaign to cancel the TV show “The View.” He is looking for public support to end the show due to increasing backlash
Elon Musk is making big news with his latest project, which is surprising both the media and entertainment industries. Known for his groundbreaking work in space exploration with SpaceX and electric vehicles with Tesla, Musk is now turning his attention…
Janet Jackson’s Alleged ‘Secret Daughter’ Revealed – Singer SHOCKED After Ex-Husband Surprise Her
Janet Jackson and James DeBarge: A Marriage, Rumors, and Long-Standing Secrets. The marriage between Janet Jackson and James DeBarge was a whirlwind romance, marked by love, secrecy, and ultimately, years of speculation. The two, childhood friends who both hailed from…
Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian recently reminisced about attending “epic” parties at Sean “P Diddy” Combs’ home. A resurfaced clip from their reality show Keeping Up With the Kardashians highlighted Khloe’s excitement about one such party, describing it as “amazing” and filled with celebrities.
Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian recently reminisced about attending “epic” parties at Sean “P Diddy” Combs’ home. A resurfaced clip from their reality show Keeping Up With the Kardashians highlighted Khloe’s excitement about one such party, describing it as “amazing” and…
William Levy captado con famosa actriz: circulan candentes imágenes
William Levy fue captado junto a esta famosa actriz en Italia ¡en candentes escenas! William Levy fue captado junto a la actriz Raffaella DiCaprio. Si bien las candentes fotos de ambos, donde aparece Levy sin camisa y se ven muy cariñosos, besándose, han…
End of content
No more pages to load