Janet Jackson has found herself in the spotlight after an unauthorized “apology” was released by someone reportedly claiming to be her manager.
The statement, issued by Mo Elmasri and first reported by BuzzFeed before being picked up by several major media outlets, was intended to respond to what Elmasri described to Yahoo Entertainment as “racist and unbalanced statements” made by Jackson in a Sept. 21 interview with the Guardian, in which the 58-year-old singer questioned Vice President Kamala Harris’ racial identity.
However, Jackson’s rep told multiple media outlets that Elmasri — who was listed as her manager on IMDb and was reportedly an executive producer on her upcoming documentary — Janet Jackson: Family First — has no ties to the singer.
According to her rep, Janet’s real manager is her brother Randy Jackson. The siblings are reportedly grieving the loss of their older brother Tito, who died on September 15 at the age of 70, and could not be reached for comment, Variety reported.
Elmasri’s unauthorized statement, which Jackson’s spokesman stressed was not approved, expressed regret for the singer’s comments about Harris and blamed “misinformation.”
In an email statement to Yahoo Entertainment, Elmasri called himself Jackson’s former business manager and said he was fired by Janet and Randy Jackson after the incident.
“The disagreement between Janet and I arose after her meeting with the Guardian and her racist and unbalanced statements,” he said. “As her business manager, I decided to help her reshape her image and calm the public and her fans. But then she and Randy made a decision and I was fired.”
Yahoo Entertainment has reached out to Randy Jackson for comment, but has not yet received a response.
🗣️ What did Janet Jackson say about Kamala Harris?
During an interview with the Guardian on Saturday, Jackson made false claims about Harris’ racial identity, repeating the misinformation that she is not black. Harris’ father is black and from Jamaica, while her late mother was Native American.
“Well, you know what they supposedly said?” Jackson said of Harris during the Guardian interview. “She’s not black. That’s what I heard. That she’s Native American.”
When the reporter pointed out that Harris is both black and Native American, Jackson said, “Her father is white. That’s what I’ve been told. I mean, I haven’t been watching the news for a couple of days. I’ve been told they found out her father is white.”
Jackson also expressed doubts about whether America is ready for a woman of color as president.
“I don’t know,” she replied. “I honestly don’t want to answer that because I really, honestly, don’t know. I think it’s going to be chaos either way.”
Jackson’s comments resembled comments made by former President Donald Trump in July, when he suggested Harris was “going black” for political gain.
“She was just promoting her Indian heritage,” Trump said during an interview at the National Association of Black Journalists convention. “I didn’t know she was black until a couple of years ago, when she happened to become black. And now she wants to be known as black. … Is she Indian or is she black?”
📣 Fans call out ‘ignorant’ statements
Shortly after the interview was published, the singer’s fans expressed their disappointment on social media, with some calling her statements “ignorant” and “disappointing.”
“Janet Jackson sounded like a complete idiot in that interview and I am very disappointed,” she tweeted.
“God knows I love Janet Jackson, but her inclusion in the ‘I heard it but decided not to use Google’ crew is a little disappointing,” said another.
🙏 Alleged spokesperson offers ‘apology’
Amid the negative backlash, Elmasri, a spokesperson for Jackson, told BuzzFeed that her comments were “based on misinformation.” The statement was eventually shared by major media outlets, most of whose stories have since been edited to reflect the latest updates.
“Janet Jackson wishes to clarify her recent comments,” the statement said. “She acknowledges that her statements about Vice President Kamala Harris’ racial identity were based on misinformation. Janet respects Harris’ dual heritage as both Black and Native American and apologizes for any confusion that may have arisen.”
Elmasri added in the statement to BuzzFeed: “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.”
❌ It turns out Jackson didn’t authorize the ‘apology’
It was later revealed by several media outlets that Jackson’s “apology” had been sent by Elmasri, without being authorized by the singer herself.
Jackson’s representatives confirmed to major media outlets that her real manager is her brother Randy Jackson, and that Elmasri had no authority to speak on her behalf. They also stated that Elmasri was never part of Jackson’s team.
💬 Elmasri claims he was ‘fired’
According to Elmasri, he and the Jacksons had a heated meeting after the unauthorized statement, which ultimately led to his firing.
In a separate statement to Variety, Elmasri said he made the statement in an effort to “improve her image in the eyes of the public and her fans, and this is something I do not deserve.” He also expressed his support for Harris, saying, “All my support to Kamla [sic] “Harris.”
Elmasri reiterated his claims in another statement to the Daily Beast.
When asked for additional comment, he explained to the newspaper that he “could not take any phone calls due to the volume of calls,” but reiterated his support for Harris.
👤 Who is Mo Elmasri?
Elmasri was listed as Janet Jackson’s manager on several industry websites, including IMDb and Celebrity Service. His status there was reportedly last verified on September 22.
His personal IMDb biography, which has since been edited, reportedly described him as an Egyptian filmmaker and founder of the 24 East Agency. It was also claimed that he is a graduate of the New York Film Academy and serves as a “creative advisor to many global superstars,” including Janet Jackson, Beyoncé, Britney Spears and Selena Gomez.
Despite these claims, Jackson spokespeople have confirmed to multiple media outlets that Elmasri has no ties to the singer.
👪 Who are Kamala Harris’ parents?
Harris’ mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was born in India and immigrated to the United States at age 19 to study at the University of California, Berkeley. Her father, Donald J. Harris, moved to the United States from Jamaica to pursue a PhD in economics. The two met at UC Berkeley and married in 1963.
Gopalan, a breast cancer researcher who died in 2009, was a pivotal influence in Harris’ life. Harris often credits her mother with shaping her values and work ethic, as evidenced in her speeches and public service. Harris’ father continued his academic career, though he has remained less visible during her political rise.
🇺🇲 Janet Jackson’s Political Views
Jackson generally keeps her political views private and has never openly endorsed specific political parties or candidates.
Throughout her decades-long career, she has consistently championed social justice causes, using her platform and music to support LGBTQ rights, Black Lives Matter, and women’s rights.
In February 2022, the singer partnered with Girls Leadership, a nonprofit organization that teaches girls how to use their voices.
“The sooner we can teach our girls how to stand up for themselves and each other and what they believe in, the better off they’ll be as they get older,” Jackson said at the time. “Women need to be more supportive of each other from day one, and that starts when we’re younger. We owe it to the younger generation to teach them so they don’t make as many mistakes as we did.”
