An apology issued on behalf of Janet Jackson after she made comments about Kamala Harris’s racial background was unauthorised, it is understood.
In an interview published in the Guardian, the 58-year-old singer repeated the false claim that the vice president “is not black”.
A statement said to have been shared on Jackson’s behalf later stated her comments were wrong and “based on misinformation”.
The statement had come from Mo Elmasri, who said he was Jackson’s manager.
First shared with Buzzfeed, the statement read: “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.”
Image: Kamala Harris’ father is Jamaican and her mother was Indian Pic: Reuters
Sky News understands that representatives for Jackson did not authorise the release of the statement.
The singer is currently managed by her brother Randy.
Mr Elmasri has since claimed he was “fired” due to what he called “attempts to improve [Janet’s] image in front of public opinion and her fans”.
He went on to offer his support to Ms Harris, in a statement to Sky News.
Sky News has contacted Jackson’s representatives for a response to Mr Elmasri’s claims.
Jackson’s original comments about Ms Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, were in response to a question from a Guardian journalist about the potential for the US to have its first black female president.
Jackson reportedly said: “Well, you know what they supposedly said? She’s not black. That’s what I heard. That she’s Indian.”
When informed by interviewer Nosheen Iqbal that Ms Harris’s mother was Indian and her father is Jamaican, Jackson said: “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.”
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Ms Harris’s father Donald J Harris, 86, is an economist and Stanford University professor emeritus, who was born in Jamaica and is black.
Her mother Shyamala Gopalan, a cancer researcher, was born in southern India and died in 2009 aged 70.
Ms Harris has described herself as African American and South Asian Indian American.
Jackson’s reported comments come after Donald Trump said Ms Harris had “turned black” as he addressed the National Association of Black Journalists convention in July.
“She was always of Indian heritage, and she was only promoting the Indian heritage,” the Republican presidential nominee said.
“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. So, I don’t know, is she Indian or is she black?”
Jackson is currently promoting the European leg of her Together Again tour and a forthcoming residency in Las Vegas.
Her older brother Tito – who was a member of the Jackson 5 – died last week aged 70.