Whoopi Goldberg has defended Janet Jackson after the singer questioned Kamala Harris’ ethnicity.
Jackson was speaking in a recent interview when she was asked about her views on America potentially voting in its first Black female president, to which she responded by voicing her doubt over whether the Democratic candidate was actually Black.
“Well, you know what they supposedly said?” she responded. “She’s not Black. That’s what I heard. That she’s Indian.”
Following Jackson’s original remarks, The Guardian interviewer clarified during their conversation that the Vice President is “both” – her father Jamaican and mother Indian.
But Goldberg came to her defence on The View. “You know, sometimes I’ve said stuff. And you know, I was wrong. But people want you to say something right away. You know, when people are coming at you saying, ‘Hey, you’re not paying – you’re dumb, you don’t know’ – you don’t want to answer people,” she said.
JANET JACKSON REPEATED FALSE CLAIM ABOUT VP HARRIS’ RACE: #TheView co-hosts weigh in after the superstar falsely repeated a false claim that Vice Pres. Kamala Harris is “not Black.” pic.twitter.com/Wwmc9bDkSY
— The View (@TheView) September 23, 2024
“And it is a pain in the butt, I have to tell you. Sometimes people get it wrong and they’re wrong, they made a mistake, they were wrong, it happens. Anybody who says it doesn’t happen to every one of us, multiracial or not, we all do it. So, OK, a little grace for the girl, alright?” Goldberg added, arguing that Jackson is “a musician”, not “a political animal.”
Host Ana Navarro acknowledged that Jackson has the “right to endorse, support, or not support” whoever she chooses but she argued that the singer has still not yet owned up to her mistake.
Following the publication of her interview in The Guardian, a statement was shared to Buzzfeed by Mo Elmasri, who appeared to be Jackson’s manager, claiming the remarks were “based on misinformation”.
“She deeply respects Vice President Kamala Harris and her accomplishments as a Black and Indian woman,” the statement read.
“Janet apologises for any confusion caused and acknowledges the importance of accurate representation in public discourse. We appreciate the opportunity to address this and will remain committed to promoting unity.”
But reps for the singer have since said that Jackson did not authorise such comments and the singer has actually been managed by her brother Randy for many years.
NME contacted Jackson’s press representatives for comment and she is yet to clarify her original comments about Harris publicly.
She is due to embark on the UK and European leg of her ‘Together Again’ tour this week.
