A representative for Janet Jackson has denied that the pop star issued an apology for repeating a conspiracy theory regarding Vice President Kamala Harris’ ethnicity. According to the rep, a statement released by someone falsely claiming to be Jackson’s manager was unauthorized.
The confusion arose after Mo Elmasri, who allegedly posed as Jackson’s manager, issued a statement apologizing for comments Jackson made in a recent interview with The Guardian. During the interview, the 58-year-old singer questioned whether Vice President Harris is Black, echoing a debunked right-wing conspiracy theory.
However, a spokesperson for Jackson clarified to PEOPLE that Elmasri has no affiliation with the singer. “Mo Elmasri is not Janet’s manager, nor does he represent her in any capacity,” the rep stated, adding that Randy Jackson, Janet’s brother, is her actual manager.
The unauthorized statement from Elmasri falsely claimed that Jackson regretted her comments, which were described as “based on misinformation.”
In the interview with The Guardian, Janet Jackson questioned Harris’ racial identity. When told that Harris, 59, could become the first Black woman elected president, Jackson responded, “Well, you know what they supposedly said? She’s not Black. That’s what I heard. That she’s Indian.”
When the interviewer corrected her, noting Harris is of both Indian and Black heritage, Jackson persisted with a false claim: “Her father’s White. That’s what I was told. I mean, I haven’t watched the news in a few days.”
Jackson continued to cast doubt, saying she was told that Harris’ father was White, despite the fact that Harris’ father, Donald J. Harris, is Jamaican. Her mother, Dr. Shyamala Gopalan, was born in India.
Jackson also expressed uncertainty about whether America is ready for a woman of color to become president, saying, “I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t want to answer that because I truthfully don’t know. I think either way it goes is going to be mayhem.”
The comments echoed a long-running conspiracy theory promoted by figures such as former President Donald Trump, who falsely claimed that Harris “became Black” only for political gain. During a speech at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention in July, Trump alleged that Harris had initially embraced only her Indian heritage before later identifying as Black.
Janet Jackson’s team has since distanced the singer from the false apology and emphasized that any previous statements did not come from her authorized representatives.
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