--- description: Jackson’s representatives denied an apology purported to be made on her behalf after she echoed misinformation about Harris’ race. title: What Janet Jackson Really Said About Kamala Harris image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf78bada982fe64a5/698a5b1a9d83e8c429b9a892/janet-jackson-kamala-harris.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [celebrities](/tag/celebrities/) ## celebrities Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # What Janet Jackson Did—and Didn’t—Say About Kamala Harris’ Race ## Video: Trump Falsely Claims Harris Hasn’t Always Identified as Black [Watch (HLS stream): Trump Falsely Claims Harris Hasn’t Always Identified as Black](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/bpbGfOMi.m3u8) (3:27)  _Published 2024-07-31. Former President Donald Trump used his turn before the nation’s largest professional association of Black journalists to question the racial identity of his rival for the White House this fall, telling a shocked National Association of Black Journalists conference in Chicago that Vice President Kamala Harris “happened to turn Black and now she wants to be known as Black.”_ by [Koh Ewe](/author/koh-ewe/) ## Koh Ewe Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Koh Ewe (Koyu) was a reporter for TIME based in Singapore. Sep 23, 2024 9:30 AM CUT  Janet Jackson attends a runway show in New York City on Sept. 8, 2023. Janet Jackson attends a runway show in New York City on Sept. 8, 2023.Jamie McCarthy—Getty Images by [Koh Ewe](/author/koh-ewe/) ## Koh Ewe Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Koh Ewe (Koyu) was a reporter for TIME based in Singapore. Sep 23, 2024 9:30 AM CUT “She’s not Black. That’s what I heard. That she’s Indian,” 58-year-old singer and actress Janet Jackson, sister of the late global superstar Michael Jackson, recently said of Democratic presidential nominee [Kamala Harris](https://time.com/7009317/reintroduction-of-kamala-harris/ "undefined"), repeating the untrue assertion that the Vice President has misrepresented her race/ethnicity. “Her father’s white. That’s what I was told,” Jackson said in an interview with [_the Guardian_](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/sep/21/janet-jackson-interview-on-bad-relationships-new-music-and-kamala-harris "undefined") that was published on Saturday. “I mean, I haven’t watched the news in a few days,” she added. Harris has long publicly identified as both Black and Indian American, and, throughout her political career, claims to the contrary have been repeatedly [fact-checked as false](https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/kamala-harris-has-long-identified-black-contrary-trump-claim-2024-08-01/ "undefined"). Her father, Donald Harris, is an economist and Stanford professor from Jamaica, while her mother Shyamala Gopalan, who died in 2009, was a biomedical scientist from India. Jackson’s latest comments, however, echo misinformation [promoted](https://time.com/7006139/donald-trump-kamala-harris-black-indian/ "undefined") by Harris’ Republican rival [Donald Trump](https://time.com/6972021/donald-trump-2024-election-interview/ "undefined"), who in July told the National Association of Black Journalists that Harris “happened to turn Black and now she wants to be known as Black.” The former President repeated his claim during the [recent debate](https://time.com/7019837/harris-trump-debate-highlights/ "undefined"), saying, “I read that she was Black. Then I read that she was not Black.” _The Guardian_’s interview with Jackson elicited a firestorm of reactions online, where social media posts [lambasting](https://x.com/notcapnamerica/status/1837642214517674351 "undefined") and [mocking](https://x.com/Anoceangoddesss/status/1837550957359505684 "undefined") the singer have racked up millions of views. “This whole Janet Jackson thing just goes to show you how out of touch some celebrities are. I’ve always loved her but repeating lies!? Smh. If you don’t know about a subject, then don’t speak on it… especially with your platform,” read one [post on X](https://x.com/AJLaJoya/status/1837564283489776011 "undefined"). Comedian D.L. Hughley [posted](https://x.com/RealDLHughley/status/1837868217810718836 "undefined") that Jackson’s interview “sounded like a #Trump rally,” and a fan account for celebrities including Jackson called her remarks “[simply irresponsible](https://x.com/redforjanet/status/1837550452390744343 "undefined").” Others, meanwhile, have [defended](https://x.com/AmFlaw3d1st/status/1837651019351699461 "undefined") Jackson over her doubts about Harris’ race. “As a 90s baby, I refuse to let y’all tarnish Janet Jackson for speaking her mind,” [posted](https://x.com/Highway%5F30/status/1837716936404214056 "undefined") Royce White, a former professional basketball player and a Republican Senate nominee in Minnesota, who added: “Y’all can take my Black card too.” Then the saga took an even stranger turn. Mo Elmasri, a person who claimed to be Jackson’s manager and whose [IMDB page](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11505250/ "undefined") lists him as a producer for Jackson’s documentary, said Sunday in a statement cited by multiple media outlets including [Buzzfeed](https://www.buzzfeed.com/chelseastewart/janet-jackson-kamala-harris-comments-apology "undefined")—which first reported it—that Jackson “recognizes” her remarks on Harris’ race were “based on misinformation” and that she “apologizes for any confusion caused.” The statement added: “Janet respects Harris’ dual heritage as both Black and Indian and apologizes 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.” But later Sunday, representatives for the singer refuted Elmasri’s statement, saying that he was not authorized to speak on her behalf. Elmasri told [_Variety_](https://variety.com/2024/music/news/janet-jackson-apology-kamala-harris-not-authorized-1236152776/ "undefined") in a separate statement that he “was fired by Janet and Randy \[Jackson\], after attempts to improve her image in front of public opinion and her fans,” adding that this was “something I do not deserve.” _Variety_ reported, citing sources close to Jackson’s team, that Elmasri was not believed to be directly associated with the singer. ([USA Today](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2024/09/22/janet-jackson-kamala-harris-apology/75342492007/ "undefined") reported that Elmasri had never worked on Jackson’s team.) Jackson has been managed by her brother Randy for years, and the siblings, according to _Variety_, are unavailable for comment as they are mourning the [recent death](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/16/us/tito-jackson-dead.html "undefined") of their brother Tito. In her decadeslong entertainment career, Jackson has been a vocal champion for social justice and has used her public platform and music to advocate for [LGBTQ rights](https://www.ajc.com/entertainment/janet-jackson-receives-top-glaad-award/Ho3XRtb1LNmBGrMx3nKKTK/ "undefined"), [women’s rights](https://variety.com/2018/music/news/janet-jackson-billboard-music-awards-acceptance-speech-icon-award-1202817476/ "undefined"), and the [Black Lives Matter movement](https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/janet-jackson-black-lives-matter-message-9397781/ "undefined"). When _the Guardian_ reporter pushed back on Jackson’s claim that Harris isn’t Black and asked her if she thought the U.S. was ready for Harris, a woman of color, to be President, Jackson reportedly replied: “Honestly, I don’t want to answer that because I really, truthfully, don’t know. 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