The prejudice she faced as a child
As The Jackson 5 took off with hit singles like I Want You Back, Janet moved with her family from their two-bedroom house in Gary Indiana to Encino – a predominantly white neighborhood in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, the Jacksons weren’t met with a warm reception. I think the Jacksons were the first black family to move in, so it was a little controversial at that time.
In the documentary, Janet reflected on being called an unforgivable word as somebody drove by. She endured racism at school as well, with some kids and even teachers touching her skin and hair asking questions that were equally absurd and awful. Although there was a petition to remove the Jacksons, their family remained in LA. As unconventional as her childhood was, incidents like this are sadly all too relatable for people of color.
Her relationship with Tupac on Poetic Justice
Jackson made the leap to feature film with Poetic Justice for which she received a Best Original Song Oscar nomination. She also shared the screen with future Oscar winner Regina King and the late Tupac Shakur. While Q-Tip got to kiss Jackson about 20 times while doing 20 takes, she shared most of her romantic scenes with Shakur.
Their on-screen rapport was so believable that one might assume that they were more than co-stars. Although Jackson and Shakur were never romantically linked, behind the scenes, King said that there was definitely a bit of chemistry between the two. King noted though that Jackson was in a committed relationship with Renee Elizondo Jr.
She never had a secret baby
In January 2017, a 50 year old Janet Jackson gave birth to her first child Issa Almana. In the 80s however, a rumor surfaced that Jackson had a secret child with James Debarge.
nobody saw a baby i mean she was there with us all day every day where was the baby where who where they were saying that i was raising her daughter i couldn’t believe it
Jackson’s weight gain at the time led some to believe she was pregnant. Actually, it was the opposite – Jackson was taking birth control pills and weight gain was a side effect. Nevertheless, the rumor spawned various theories about the secret baby’s identity and whereabouts. Although it should probably go without saying, by now Jackson set the record straight once and for all. The secret baby rumor is precisely a rumor and nothing more.
Despite her difficult history with Debarge, Jackson noted that she wouldn’t have hidden something like that from him.
How addiction affected her first two marriages
When it comes to relationships, somehow Janet Jackson was attracted to people that use drugs. When Jackson eloped with James Debarge, the marriage was initially kept hush hush. Not long after, Debarge disappeared on their wedding night and the 18-year-old Jackson realized that her husband had a drug problem. Jackson spent her nights searching the streets for Debarge with conflict inevitably ensuing at home. The marriage lasted just over a year.
Read: 6 actors who went way too far on set.
Jackson went on to marry Renee Elizondo Jr. who proposed on a beach in the rain. In addition to directing some of her videos, Elizondo recorded almost a decade of Jackson’s life behind the constantly rolling camera. Elizondo was controlling and had a painkiller problem. Ultimately, Jackson’s second marriage ended in 2000.
Her struggles with body issues
On the sitcom ‘Good Times,’ Jackson played Penny – a little girl who is mistreated and abandoned by her mother. In reality, Jackson was also dealing with serious problems. Her time on the comedy series marked the beginning of her history with body issues. Entering puberty at an early age, Jackson’s chest was bound to make her appear younger. Jackson also opened up about being an “emotional” eater.
Michael didn’t help the situation, calling Janet heavy and comparing her to barnyard animals. Jackson added that Michael didn’t mean to hurt her as it’s not uncommon for siblings to make fun of each other. Regardless, these insensitive comments only added to the insecurity she was experiencing.
Thriller marked a falling out between Janet and Michael
The Jackson household’s youngest child Janet struggled to find her place in the family. As much as she loved her brothers, they were constantly working. She felt like a bit of an outcast. Despite this distance, Janet developed an especially close bond with Randy and Michael. She fondly remembered sitting in the car with Michael listening to his albums whenever a new one hit.
Around the time Thriller came out, the siblings started to part ways. Janet was also branching out as her eponymous debut album released that same year. She had hoped to keep her last name out of its title, calling it simply ‘Janet.’ However, escaping the Jackson name would be an ongoing struggle on her way to becoming the then highest paid recording artist ever.
Her father’s controlling ways
Had she come from a different family, Janet Jackson might have pursued her ambition to become a lawyer. After she showcased musical talent, her father Joe Jackson insisted that she continue the family singing trajectory. This was far from the only life-changing decision that Joe made for his daughter. Janet wasn’t keen on playing Cleo Hewitt on Fame, especially given her marriage to Debarge, but Joe felt it would be the best move for her.
As demanding as Joe was, Janet still views her deceased father as a good-hearted and protective parent. She also acknowledged that the Jacksons wouldn’t have achieved such levels of success without his disciplinary ways. To take control of her life though, Janet eventually needed to drop her father as a manager.
How the allegations against Michael affected her
Just as Michael was the face of Pepsi for a period, Janet nearly introduced Coca-Cola to a new generation. The deal fell through when the first allegation against Michael surfaced. When that came out, Coca-Cola said, “no thank you.” Michael Jackson remains a divisive figure, but Janet stated in the documentary that she “never thought he was guilty.” Janet was seen as “guilty by association.”
Instead of distancing herself, Janet stayed at Michael’s ranch to show her support with the rest of the family. Michael and Janet would even collaborate on ‘Scream.’ Although this experience wasn’t without complications. Aside from going over budget, the siblings were separated for much of the production. Although it seemed like an opportunity to recapture the good old days, Janet could feel like she was battling Mike.
The aftermath of Super Bowl 38
Few live television events ignited more headlines than Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction with Justin Timberlake at the 2004 Super Bowl Halftime show. In retrospect, the controversy not only feels overblown, but Jackson really deserved better from the media and politicians. So did her family who were also harassed over the performance.
Jackson revealed that Timberlake reached out amid the scandal, asking if he should make a statement. Jackson advised him against doing so, not wanting any drama for him. Although Timberlake was still invited to that year’s Grammys, Jackson’s invitation was rescinded. As difficult as this chapter was, Jackson would persevere. Janet declined Timberlake’s offer to reunite at Super Bowl 52, but she says that the two are good friends who have moved past the incident.
Her final moments with Michael
We were all shocked when Michael Jackson died at age 50 on June 25th 2009, but few were in a greater state of disbelief than Janet. When the news broke, Janet eventually accepted that her brother was gone. In an especially emotional moment, Janet reflected on her final memory of Michael. They attended a surprise party for their parents with the other Jacksons and “he was sitting next to me,” she said. Michael appeared to be in good spirits throughout the party.
Before he and Janet parted with three words, “I love you,” neither of them realized that these would be the last words that they ever exchanged. While Janet’s relationship with Michael had its ups and downs, she takes solace in knowing that things ended on a loving note.
