Janet Jackson is facing backlash after an unauthorized statement of apology was released in her name, addressing her recent reposting of content that echoed QAnon conspiracy theories questioning Vice President Kamala Harris’ Black identity. The repost, which aligned with claims denying Harris’ racial authenticity, sparked controversy among fans and the public.
Despite the apology being released, sources close to Jackson have indicated that the statement was not authorized by her or her team. This has raised further concern about the management of her public image and the implications of sharing such divisive content, which appears to promote misinformation tied to extremist groups like QAnon.
Janet Jackson’s team has denied that she issued an apology regarding her comments that appeared to align with right-wing and QAnon conspiracy theories questioning Vice President Kamala Harris’ Black identity. According to her representatives, an unauthorized statement was released by someone claiming to be her manager, falsely attributing an apology to Jackson. This statement, which was picked up by outlets such as BuzzFeed, claimed that her comments were based on “misinformation.”
The statement in question was reportedly issued by a man named Mo Elmasri, who does not appear to be officially affiliated with Jackson’s team. This has caused confusion and further controversy, as the unauthorized nature of the apology has raised questions about who is handling her public communications.
“Janet Jackson’s team has clarified that the statement you referenced, purportedly apologizing for comments questioning Vice President Kamala Harris’ racial identity, was not authorized by Jackson or her official representatives. The statement, attributed to a man named Mo Elmasri, falsely claimed that Janet Jackson acknowledged her remarks were based on misinformation and offered an apology.
Jackson’s actual team has since denied issuing this statement, emphasizing that the apology was not approved by Jackson and does not reflect her stance on the matter.”
On Monday, Janet Jackson’s team informed Variety that Mo Elmasri is not affiliated with the singer. Elmasri, an Egyptian filmmaker and founder of 24 East Agency, previously identified himself as a former manager of Jackson. He claimed to have been dismissed by both Jackson and her brother, Randy, following attempts to “improve her image.” Jackson’s representatives have made it clear that his statements do not represent her views or authorize any public comments on her behalf.
