In a shocking twist of events, pop legend Janet Jackson recently sparked a wave of online controversy with comments about Vice President Kamala Harris’ ethnic background. Jackson made these remarks in a publication by The Guardian, expressing doubt over Harris’ mixed-race identity when the topic of America’s ‘first female Black president’ came up. Instead of applauding the prospect, Jackson questionably alleged that Harris isn’t black. It’s notable that Harris’ father, Donald Harris, hails from Jamaica, and her late mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was of Indian descent.
Perhaps more startling, Jackson made an inexplicable assertion claiming Donald Harris had been ‘discovered’ to be white. These unfounded comments did not pass without consequence, triggering immediate online backlash. Despite Janet Jackson being an influential figure in music, it’s utterly baffling to note her blatant disregard for verifiable facts when addressing political matters.
In an unexpected attempt to mitigate damage, Whoopi Goldberg, known for her association with Jackson in the 2010 drama ‘For Colored Girls,’ solely took responsibility for Jackson’s comments during a ‘The View’ panel discussion. Goldberg’s justification emphasized that people are prone to err, equating Jackson’s significant public lapse with common human errors. Interestingly, she insists that Jackson isn’t a ‘political animal’ meanwhile emphasizing her strong influence in pop culture.
Goldberg continues to dilute the gravity of Jackson’s mistake, calling for tolerance and asking for ‘a little grace for the girl.’ While Goldberg’s sentiment might seem diplomatic, it is worth questioning if she’s comfortable playing down the potential harmful impact of false representations on public platforms. She seems to disappointingly mistake false racial accusations for simple misjudgments.
However, not everyone seemed eager to let the matter rest so swiftly. Ana Navarro, a fellow panelist on ‘The View’, made it clear that she wasn’t quite ready to gloss over Jackson’s controversial comments. Navarro rightly pointed out that Jackson, like any other citizen, enjoys the luxury of supporting or resisting whoever she wishes in the political arena.
Despite this, Navarro importantly emphasized that the liberty to express opinions doesn’t extend to spreading falsities. She found it irresponsible for Jackson to misuse her prominence to disseminate baseless assertions, especially considering the impact celebrities can have on public opinion. Navarro astutely criticized such actions, which in essence, contribute to misinforming people, a particularly dangerous facet in volatile political climates.
Navarro made it explicit that Jackson’s ignorant remarks closely mirrored those made by ex-President Donald Trump, a controversial figure synonymous with a divisive political climate. Trump previously made a baffling comment at the National Association of Black Journalists convention, claiming ignorance about Kamala Harris’s black heritage until she ‘happened to turn Black’. The comparisons drawn by Navarro between Jackson’s allegations and Trump’s ill-founded claims are alarming and a stern warning against the influence of irresponsible public personas.
In the aftermath of Jackson’s comments, an apology was submitted on her behalf, perhaps in recognition of the harm and controversy they had fomented. It remains unclear if this apology, presumably offered by Jackson’s management team, can alleviate the substantial damage rendered by her remarks on Harris’s racial identity.
Notably, Jackson’s current manager is none other than her brother, Randy Jackson. His management’s response to the controversy was to confirm that indeed, an apology had been issued. This clarification, however, does little to mitigate the adverse impact of the misinformed comments on Vice President Harris.
Janet Jackson’s Ignorant Remarks on Kamala Harris Highlights Celebrity Misinformation appeared first on Real News Now.
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