Janet Jackson's unauthorized 'apology' for Kamala Harris comments was issued by a non-representative

Representatives for Janet Jackson clarified that an "apology" circulating about the singer’s comments on Kamala Harris’ racial identity was unauthorized. The statement, initially reported by Buzzfeed and various outlets, was issued by Mo Elmasri, who claimed to be Jackson’s manager. According to Variety, Elmasri stated in the email that Janet "recognizes that her statements regarding Vice President Kamala Harris' racial identity were based on misinformation" and "apologizes for any confusion caused." However, Jackson's team confirmed that Elmasri does not represent her.

The incident follows Jackson's recent interview with The Guardian, where she made comments about Harris’ racial identity, stating, “She’s not Black. That’s what I heard. That she’s Indian.” She also said she was told Harris' father is “white.” When corrected about Harris’ dual heritage, Jackson responded with uncertainty, saying she hadn't watched the news for a few days.

Elmasri, listed as an Egyptian filmmaker on IMDb, emailed Jackson’s “apology” to Variety, but her representatives confirmed it was not authorized. Jackson's official manager is her brother Randy, who was unavailable for comment due to personal reasons.