Singer Janet Jackson issued an apology after she was heavily criticized on social media for spreading misinformation about Vice President and Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris.
The celebrated performer granted an interview recently to promote her first European tour since 2011 and repeated some false claims Republican Party supporters had made about Ms. Harris and her father.
Speaking to the Guardian, she reportedly insisted that Ms Harris is “not Black” and has a “white father” — a claim that had been proven as false.
“Well, you know what they supposedly said? She’s not Black. That’s what I heard… that she’s Indian,” Ms Jackson was quoted saying, and when she was corrected that the presidential candidate was not white, she added, “Well, she’s both.”
“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.” She noted.
Related stories
“…I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t want to answer that because I really, truthfully, don’t know. I think either way it goes is going to be mayhem,” she stated, in reference to the upcoming US election.
The remark by the Got Till’s Gone singer was not well-received by sections of Kamala Harris supporters on social media.
Some of the responses read: “We have to have an internal family meeting…So, she’s loudly proudly uninformed… I miss the time before social media when we never knew how truly stupid celebrities were.”
Following the many concerns raised about Ms Jackson’s comments, her manager stated “any confusion caused.”
“She [Janet Jackson] deeply respects Vice President Kamala Harris and her accomplishments as a Black and Indian woman. Janet apologises for any confusion caused and acknowledges the importance of accurate representation in public discourse.”
“We appreciate the opportunity to address this and will remain committed to promoting unity,” the statement added.
Janet Jackson is reported to have been living in Great Britain for the past eight years, close to her ex-husband, Wissam Al Mana, with whom she co-parents their 7-year-old son, Eissa.
Her comments about Ms Harris have been blamed on her “distance” from the United States and her somewhat disconnection from American politics.
