Janet Jackson ‘Apology’ for Repeating Kamala Harris Conspiracy Theory Did Not Come from Pop Star, Says Rep

An earlier statement was unauthorized, a rep for the singer tells PEOPLE

<p>Gotham/GC</p> Janet Jackson in 2024

Gotham/GC

Janet Jackson in 2024

This story has been updated with new information.

A person claiming to be Janet Jackson's manager issued an unauthorized “apology,” according to the singer’s rep.

The statement from Mo Elmasri purported to address the singer's interview with The Guardian, published on Sept. 21, in which Janet, 58, questioned whether Vice President Kamala Harris is Black.

A rep for Janet told PEOPLE on Sunday that Elmasri is not Janet’s manager, nor is he affiliated with her camp. The rep says Randy Jackson is Janet's manager.

The statement issued earlier on Sunday from Elmasri, whom the singer's rep says does not represent Janet in any capacity, claimed that the singer was sorry for comments about Harris “based on misinformation.”

On Saturday, Janet falsely claimed to The Guardian that Harris, 59, isn't Black, repeating a right-wing conspiracy theory.

<p>Dave Benett/Getty</p> Janet Jackson in 2023

Dave Benett/Getty

Janet Jackson in 2023

Related: Donald Trump Says He Will Not Debate Kamala Harris Again: 'Polls Clearly Show That I Won'

During the interview with the U.K. outlet, it was mentioned that Harris could become the first Black woman to be elected president. In response, Janet said: “Well, you know what they supposedly said?"

“She’s not Black. That’s what I heard. That she’s Indian," the singer added. When the reporter responded that Harris is both, Janet falsely claimed, “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," she added.

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<p>Gotham/GC</p> Janet Jackson in 2024

Gotham/GC

Janet Jackson in 2024

Janet added that she was unsure if America is "ready" for a "woman of color" to be president. “I don’t know,” she said. “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.”

"I think there might be mayhem," Janet responded when asked if she didn't think there would be a "peaceful transition of power."

Harris' mother, Dr. Shyamala Gopalan was raised in India. Her father, Donald J. Harris, immigrated from Jamaica to study economics at the University of California in Berkeley, which is where he met Gopalan.

<p>Gilbert Flores/WWD via Getty</p> Janet Jackson in 2023

Gilbert Flores/WWD via Getty

Janet Jackson in 2023

Related: Kamala Harris' Parents: All About Her Mom Shyamala Gopalan and Dad Donald J. Harris

Presidential candidate Donald Trump previously made false claims about Harris' race at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention in July, saying that "she became a Black person."

"She was always of Indian heritage, and she was only promoting the Indian heritage," Trump claimed at the time. "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?"

"But you know what, I respect either one, I respect either one, but she obviously doesn't, because she was Indian all the way, and then all of a sudden she made a turn, and she went — she became a Black person," Trump continued.

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