Janet Jackson’s inner circle is reportedly concerned that she may be giving her brother Randy too much influence over her career decisions. This concern arises amid recent backlash following Randy’s controversial statement suggesting that Kamala Harris is not Black. Sources close to Jackson believe this situation could negatively impact her reputation and professional relationships, leading to fears about Randy’s growing control and its potential effects on Janet’s public image and career trajectory.
Janet Jackson’s recent comments questioning Kamala Harris’ racial identity have raised concerns among her close friends about her brother Randy’s influence on her career. After Janet stated that Harris was not Black and made claims about her father’s ethnicity, the backlash was significant. Sources revealed to Page Six that the chaotic public relations response following her remarks has led to worries that Randy is exerting too much control over Janet, suggesting he may be out of his depth in managing her career. Friends are concerned that this influence could further impact Janet’s reputation and professional standing.
Sources have alleged that Randy Jackson, 62, a Trump supporter with an interest in conspiracy theories, may be influencing Janet Jackson’s controversial remarks about Kamala Harris. Although they did not explicitly state that he encouraged Janet’s false claims regarding Harris’ race, the implications have raised eyebrows. Janet, 58, created a stir on social media after expressing her views about the Democratic presidential nominee in an interview with The Guardian, leading to significant backlash and concerns from her inner circle about Randy’s role in her career management.
In the controversial interview, Janet Jackson stated, “Well, you know what they supposedly said? She’s not Black. That’s what I heard. That she’s Indian. Her father’s white. That’s what I was told.” She further added, “I mean, I haven’t watched the news in a few days.”
However, the facts are that Kamala Harris’ father is Jamaican and her mother is white, making her the first Black and South Asian vice president when she took office with President Joe Biden in 2021. This misinformation has led to significant backlash and concerns about Janet’s comments, particularly regarding the influence of her brother Randy Jackson in her career.
Janet Jackson faced significant backlash on social media and from political commentators following her remarks about Kamala Harris, which echoed former President Donald Trump’s unfounded conspiracy theories regarding Harris’s racial identity. Friends within her inner circle expressed confusion over her statements and voiced concerns that the fallout could severely impact her career, potentially worse than the infamous “Nipplegate” incident during the Super Bowl.
Insiders worry that her comments may alienate fans from minority communities, particularly given Jackson’s long history of advocating against racism and discrimination through her music and activism. One source remarked, “How can she sing about Rhythm Nation and make comments like that? It doesn’t even sound like her. She’s so methodical. I don’t know what made her do this.”
Additionally, friends noted that Jackson has become increasingly disconnected from current events, reportedly not following the news closely and living “in a bubble,” which may have contributed to her controversial remarks.
Sources revealed that Janet Jackson and her brother Randy only became aware of the controversy surrounding her interview while celebrating in Paris with friends, including designer Christian Siriano. Instead of addressing the backlash immediately, they opted to let it “blow over,” but this strategy backfired when a man named Mo Elmasri, claiming to be her manager, issued an apology on her behalf to Buzzfeed.
Shortly thereafter, Janet’s publicist clarified that Randy was managing her and stated that Elmasri did not represent her. They added that neither Janet nor Randy would comment further as they were mourning the recent loss of their brother Tito Jackson, who passed away on September 15 at the age of 70.
Elmasri later claimed to The Daily Beast that he had indeed worked for Janet but was fired after disagreeing with her and Randy about how to handle the fallout from her comments. However, multiple sources indicated that Elmasri’s claim was met with skepticism, stating that “no one in her camp knows who he is.” One insider remarked, “It’s completely out of the blue. No one has ever heard of this guy, not any breath of him.”
Elmasri had previously claimed to be Janet Jackson’s manager when he announced her upcoming Las Vegas residency in August, and while her publicity team later issued an official announcement regarding the residency, it did not address Elmasri’s claims.
Some sources expressed uncertainty about Elmasri’s role, suggesting he might have had an actual connection to Janet but speculating that Randy could have hired him. Critics of Randy have accused him of “sabotaging her legacy” due to his lack of industry savvy, noting that he has “never had a career” of his own and that Janet “pays for everything.”
Additionally, these sources alleged that Randy holds views as a Trump supporter and conspiracy theorist, claiming, “Janet’s bubble is small, and she listens to Randy. She does peddle in conspiracy theories.” This has raised concerns among her inner circle about the influence he may have on her career decisions and public image.
In her interview with The Guardian, Janet Jackson indicated that her brother Randy may have contributed to the delays in releasing her next album, Black Diamond, which she announced before the COVID-19 lockdowns. She expressed disappointment over the delay, stating, “I felt so badly,” and mentioned that she has “music that’s just sitting on the shelf” waiting for release. She speculated that Randy is “just waiting for the opportune time” to move forward.
However, multiple sources have claimed that Janet lacks sufficient material for a new album, suggesting she hasn’t been back in the studio to record since before the pandemic.
Amid the controversy surrounding her recent comments about Kamala Harris, a person named Mo Elmasri stated he was terminated from his position working with Janet. Elmasri claimed that disagreements arose between him, Janet, and Randy following her interview, leading to his dismissal. He noted that he was unable to take calls due to the influx of inquiries about the situation, adding, “All support to Kamala Harris.” Meanwhile, Janet’s representatives confirmed that Elmasri issued a statement on her behalf without authorization.
