Janet Jackson apologized after claiming Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris was “not Black.”
On Sunday, the “All For You” songstress issued a statement obtained by People, claiming her remarks on Harris’ racial identity were “based on misinformation.”
“She extends her sincerest apologies for any confusion caused and reaffirms her respect for Harris’ dual heritage as both Black and Indian,” the statement read.
“Janet remains committed to fostering unity, inclusion, and understanding and is grateful for the opportunity to clarify her stance,” the statement continued.
“She will continue to use her platform to support leaders who represent diversity and progress.”
Jackson, 58, came under scrutiny after questioning Harris’ race during an interview with the Guardian published on Saturday.
When the pop star was asked about her thoughts on Americans voting for the first Black female presidential nominee, Jackson said of Harris, “She’s not black. That’s what I heard. That she’s Indian.
“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.”
Harris’ parents were both immigrants, with her father being born in Jamaica and her mother in India.
Jackson was then asked if the US was ready to have Harris, 59, in the Oval Office over Republican opponent and former president Donald Trump.
“I don’t know,” the five-time Grammy winner responded. “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.”
The “Nasty” singer was swiftly criticized on social media for her comments.
“This is why she’s irrelevant and leeching off of her brothers’ success,” one person wrote on X, referring to Janet’s late brother Michael Jackson.
“I have always been a fan of Janet Jackson but this just no. Stop,” another chimed in.
Several others pointed out how Michael’s skin tone became lighter in the early 1990s, which he claimed was due to vitiligo.
Per Mayo Clinic, vitiligo is a condition that leads to color loss in the skin.
“Janet, you know better than to believe that nonsense … especially after all the race controversies Michael went through,” another critic added.
Others compared the music icon’s controversial comments to Trump’s false claims that Harris changed her race.
“I’ve known her a long time, indirectly, and she was always of Indian heritage, and she was only promoting Indian heritage,” the “Apprentice” alum, 78, said in July while speaking at the National Association for Black Journalists.
“I did not 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.”
