Janet Jackson's pals worry as Trump-supporting brother Randy takes over her affairs amid racism scandal

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Janet Jackson has recently found herself in a tough spot following her comments regarding the ethnic background of Vice President Kamala Harris. The singer, 58, reportedly retreated into a "bubble" to shield herself from the backlash that came after she made claims that Harris was "not Black."

Amid the drama, Janet reportedly handed control of her PR to her brother and manager Randy Jackson. Sources claim that Randy, not Janet, may have been the one responsible for the "racist" comments that stirred up the controversy. According to insiders, Randy may have been the driving force behind the remarks that have now put Janet in hot water.

It all began when former president Donald Trump made similar comments in July, suggesting that Harris “happened to turn Black” only in recent years. Trump said, “I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago... and now she wants to be known as Black. So, I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?” 

The 45th POTUS, however, walked back those comments during his debate with the veep. "Whatever she wants to be is OK with me," he offered.

Janet Jackson's controversial interview

The real fallout for Janet came over the weekend after she echoed Trump's earlier statements in an interview with The Guardian. When discussing Harris, Janet said: "She's not Black. That's what I heard. That she's Indian."

The interviewer quickly pointed out that Harris' mother is Indian but her father is Jamaican. Janet — seemingly confused — responded, "Her father’s White. That’s what I was told. I mean, I haven't watched the news in a few days. I was told that they discovered her father was White."

Of course, this didn’t sit well with a lot of people. Social media exploded with critics slamming Janet for perpetuating what many saw as "MAGA-fueled lies" and "irresponsible" remarks.

To make matters worse, Janet's team sent out disjointed responses to the controversy. A man named Mo Elmasri claimed to be Janet's manager and issued an apology on her behalf. However, her official rep denied any connection to Elmasri shortly after and clarified that Randy Jackson was indeed Janet's real manager.

Sources close to Janet revealed to Page Six that Randy had taken over handling his sister’s affairs, and that nobody in her circle knew of Elmasri. "No one has ever heard of this guy, not any breath of him," an insider said, adding, "Janet and Randy’s attitude was to just let it blow over. They weren’t planning to address it."

Is Randy sabotaging Janet Jackson's legacy?

Now, there’s growing concern that Randy Jackson— who has been labeled a "Trump supporter and conspiracy theorist" — might be hurting Janet's legacy. Some worry that his involvement could have a lasting impact on her reputation, even more damaging than her infamous "Nipplegate" scandal at the 2004 Super Bowl.

One source close to the situation told Page Six, "[Randy’s] sabotaging her legacy because he’s not savvy. She’s giving Randy control, and no one understands how he’s managing her when he’s never had a career. She pays for everything."

The insider added: "Janet’s bubble is small, and she listens to Randy. She does peddle in conspiracy theories."

Randy’s social media presence certainly raises eyebrows. In an October 2020 Instagram post, he shared a video supporting Trump's reelection campaign with a caption that read: “Please watch. We are living in a time where there is a war going on. Not blue vs red but good vs evil.”

Furthermore, his Instagram is littered with posts featuring anti-establishment political figures like Trump, Robert F Kennedy Jr, and Candace Owens. He follows just 11 accounts, which mostly include family members and politicians.

Friends worry Janet Jackson's comments aren’t hers

Another source told Page Six that Janet Jackson’s comments to The Guardian don’t “even sound like her,” adding, “She’s so methodical. I don’t know what made her do this.” The source insisted that Janet “doesn’t really watch the news anymore. She does live in a bubble.”

Randy’s website sheds some light on his close relationship with Janet. “In 2016, at Janet’s request, Randy came alongside her to consult on her career and business management as well as to support her through a difficult time in her personal life throughout her pregnancy and birth of her son and then subsequent separation from her husband,” it reads.

“Randy and Janet continue to combine their talents working on various projects together and supporting each other through the many challenges of life.”

It's worth noting that the Jackson family has been grieving the loss of their brother Tito Jackson, who died last weekend at the age of 70. Representatives for both Janet and Randy told Variety that the siblings were unavailable for comment as they were still mourning.