Janet Jackson says Kamala Harris is ‘not black’

The singer said she had heard Ms Harris’s father ‘was white’. But Donald J Harris is a Jamaican-American academic

Janet Jackson has said Kamala Harris is not black.
The singer, 58, was asked during an interview how she felt about America being “on the verge of voting in its first black female president”.
“She’s not black. That’s what I heard. That she’s Indian,” she told The Guardian.
“Her father’s white. That’s what I was told. I mean, I haven’t watched the news in a few days,” she added. “I was told that they discovered her father was white.”
A person claiming to be a representative of Jackson later issued an apology on the singer’s behalf, stating that her claims about Vice President Harris, whose father is a Jamaican-American academic, were “based on misinformation”.
However, Jackson denied authorising the statement.
Mo Elmasri, who claimed to be Jackson’s manager at Rhythm Nation Records said: “Janet Jackson would like to clarify her recent comments. She recognises that her statements regarding Vice President Kamala Harris’ racial identity were based on misinformation.”
“Janet respects Harris’ dual heritage as both black and Indian and apologises for any confusion caused. 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.”
Mr Elmasri has since claimed he was “fired” due to what he called “attempts to improve [Jackson] image”. 
Mr Elmasri told Variety: “I no longer work for her. I was fired by Janet and Randy, after attempts to improve her image in front of public opinion and her fans, and this is something I do not deserve.”
Sources close to Jackson’s team told Variety that Mr Elmasri is not known to have been directly associated with the singer, who has been managed by her brother Randy for many years.
Mr Elmasri’s biography on IMDB says he is an Egyptian filmmaker and founder of a consulting firm called 24 East Agency. It claims he is a “creative consultant for many global superstars,” including Jackson, Beyonce, Britney Spears and Selena Gomez. 
His film credits include being an executive producer on the upcoming “Janet Jackson: Family First”.
Jackson’s comments echoed claims made by Donald Trump that the Democratic presidential nominee “turned Black” for political gain.
“’She was only promoting Indian heritage,’” Trump told the National Association of Black Journalists convention in August. “’I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago, when she happened to turn Black, and now she wants to be known as Black…Is she Indian or is she Black?’”
Ms Harris, 59, is of mixed race. Her father is a Jamaican immigrant who came to the US to pursue a PhD in economics. Her mother, who died in 2009, was an Indian immigrant.
Ms Jackson’s representatives have been approached for comment.