Kamala Harris' comments on Michael Jackson trial come back to haunt her amid Janet Jackson feud

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Janet Jackson has always been known for speaking her mind, but her recent comments about Vice President Kamala Harris' racial identity have stirred quite a controversy.

What’s even more interesting is that this might not just be a case of a pop star sounding off on politics — it seems there could be some long-standing tension between the Jackson family and Harris that dates back nearly two decades.

Michael Jackson's 2004 trial and Harris' comments

To understand the possible roots of this feud, we need to go back to 2004 when Janet’s famous brother Michael Jackson was facing one of the most controversial trials in entertainment history.

In 2003, Michael Jackson was charged with seven counts of child molestation along with accusations of administering intoxicating substances. However, the King of Pop vehemently denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty.

Kamala Harris — a deputy city attorney in San Francisco at the time — was asked to weigh in on the case. Although she wasn’t directly involved, her comments stirred the pot. According to TMZ, Harris said: “In general, the child will be able to recall and recollect some detail, the incident and that is persuasive to a jury, even if it is the only testimony that is available."

Though Michael was acquitted of all charges in 2005, Harris's remarks might have remained a sore spot for the Jackson family.

Janet Jackson's recent comments on Kamala Harris

Fast forward to 2024, and Janet Jackson’s comments about Harris’ racial identity appear to reopen old wounds. In an interview with The Guardian published last week, Janet touched on a variety of topics — from her musical legacy to motherhood, and even the infamous 2004 “Nipplegate” incident which she says left her “culturally blacklisted.”

But the interview took a fascinating turn when Harris came up. Janet said, “Well, you know what they supposedly said? She’s not Black. That’s what I heard. That she’s Indian.” The interviewer Nosheen Iqbal noted that Janet seemed to be looking for confirmation, perhaps assuming Iqbal herself had Indian heritage.

When Iqbal responded, “Well, she’s both,” Janet doubled down by saying: “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.”

And when asked if America is ready for a woman of color to be president, Janet was rather hesitant in her response. “I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t want to answer that because I really, truthfully, don’t know. I think either way it goes is going to be mayhem," she said.

Similarities to Donald Trump’s take, Whoopi Goldberg's defense

Janet’s remarks have also been compared to those of former President Donald Trump, who has suggested Harris “happened to turn Black” for political convenience.

Interestingly, Trump had often praised Michael Jackson despite his legal troubles. He publicly defended the King of Pop, which could explain why Janet seems more aligned with Trump on this issue — even if not explicitly.

Although Harris hasn’t responded directly to Janet Jackson’s comments, she did clap back at Trump’s remarks about her racial identity, saying, “The American people deserve better.”

It's worth noting that Harris was born in Oakland, California to immigrant parents — her mother hailing from India and her father from Jamaica.

Janet’s remarks also made their way to daytime TV. Co-hosts on 'The View' debated Janet’s comments. While some like Ana Navarro were quick to slam the singer — calling her remarks “very irresponsible” and accusing her of using the interview “carelessly, to spread misinformation” — Whoopi Goldberg adopted a more nuanced stance.

“She made a mistake. She was wrong. It happens. Anybody who says it doesn’t happen to every one of us, multiracial or not, we all do it. So, okay, a little grace for the girl," Goldberg insisted.