In recent years, it's Janet Jackson that makes the most news out of her famous family. The
superstar and mother still performs all over the world and, despite controversy surrounding
the Jackson family, the singer has held it together. This is what Janet's relationship
is like with her family.
Janet Jackson's career was significantly derailed during her 2004 Super Bowl performance with
Justin Timberlake thanks to a wardrobe malfunction that saw her left breast exposed.
"The moment that happened you immediately covered your breast."
"Mmm hmmm."
"Because you didn't want to be exposed."
"Mmm hmmm."
"If you'd wanted to be exposed you wouldn't have covered it."
"Exactly."
Indeed, while the former NSYNC star walked away scot-free, his co-performer was essentially
blackballed by the music industry. And many, including Joe Jackson and Janet herself, believe
that Mr. Sexyback threw her under the bus.
Timberlake did, eventually and belatedly, apologize on his Instagram account in 2021
for failing to defend Janet's honor, something which at least three of her siblings appreciated.
Referring to the issue on Sirius XM show "Radio Andy," Marlon, Tito, and Jackie appeared to
take the ex-boybander's display of remorse at face value.
Marlon said:
"You know, it takes a man to step up and do that, so we do thank him for doing that. But
we'd like to move forward."
Marlon went on to explain the old adage: “as long as they're talking about you, it doesn't
matter if it's good or bad, you're still in the public's eye.”
But in typical big bro style, Jackie was also keen to remind listeners that Timberlake’s
previous actions had upset their little sis.
In 2018, Joe Jackson died at 89 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. The man was described
as:
"One of the most monstrous fathers in pop."
The patriarch had famously ruled with an iron fist while guiding his sons to superstardom.
But how did his youngest daughter feel about her pop?
Seven years earlier, Janet Jackson had opened up about their relationship during an interview
on CNN's Piers Morgan Live. Jackson even talked about a time when her father hit her.
"And I can't remember what it was that I did. I can't remember if I truly deserved it."
She also acknowledged that he was much stricter on the rest of her siblings and rarely showed
affection to them.
Despite all this, the singer still wishes she'd had a closer relationship with her dad,
adding:
"I know that he loves me, and he's told me before. He has his issues, his things, the
way he was brought up. He's set in his ways, and I think he did the best that he could,
and I think he did a wonderful job with us — the outcome — but the way he went about
it, I don't know if I agree with that. But we turned out okay."
In 2019, Janet revealed that she'd since said everything she needed to say to Joe before
his death the year previously.
Although Janet Jackson has kept relatively quiet about her famous family while being
interviewed in recent years, she's certainly not averse to spreading the love on social
media. The superstar regularly takes to Instagram to post throwback photos and videos of happy
times with her clan.
For example, in December 2020 she uploaded a snap of her toddler self sitting on the
lap of her older brother Jermaine, to celebrate his 65th birthday. She captioned the adorable
pic:
"Jermaine, I luv u and miss u much. Sending u so much luv today."
The singer also posted a similarly heartwarming message to her mom Katherine a year later
as she turned 91. Janet wrote:
"Sending so much luv to my beautiful mother today. 91 years strong."
Janet Jackson is no stranger to collaborating with members of her family. Who can forget
"Scream," the 1995 duet with Michael that came packaged with one of the most expensive
videos of all time? And six years previously, the pair and sister Rebbie joined The Jacksons
on a track from their self-titled album, "2300 Jackson Street."
But it's been a while since Janet has shared the stage or the studio with a relative, a
situation which brother Tito hopes to rectify soon. In 2019, the singer told ABC Audio that
he and the rest of his bandmates were keen to join forces with the baby of their family.
He said:
"It's something that we are looking at, you know, hopefully, we can put it together. As
a matter of fact, we had a plan of getting together with Michael after the O2 Arena shows
and we were hoping to put together a family project."
In her revealing 2019 interview with British newspaper The Times, Janet Jackson admitted
that the memories of her childhood were still something of a mixed bag. The "Black Cat"
vocalist recalled how she and brother Michael would often take on charitable work of their
own accord, driving around their hometown as teens handing out "barbecue dinners" to
homeless people.
But Janet also acknowledged that she'd been deprived of the kind of carefree childhood
most of her peers experienced, because of her famous family commitments.
"I had my first birthday party when I was 23 years old. I had never celebrated my birthday
before then."
She also said:
"You really miss out. You don't get to do all the fun things that kids do. I wanted
to do gymnastics, but that couldn't happen because I was busy working."
The Poetic Justice actress may have regularly missed out on making new pals but she did
at least have a large group of youngsters she could always rely on while growing up:
her eight brothers and sisters. She added:
"They were my best friends."
Janet Jackson might not always have enjoyed a harmonious relationship with her family.
But, as she told The Times in 2019, she's always been proud of what they've achieved.
And the star is delighted that at least one of its members is still inspiring a new generation,
too.
Referring to her late brother Michael, the "That's the Way Love Goes" singer remarked:
"I love it when I see kids emulating him, when adults still listen to his music. It
just lets you know the impact that my family has had on the world. I hope I'm not sounding
arrogant in any way — I'm just stating what is. It's really all God's doing, and I'm just
thankful for that."
Janet was speaking ahead of her first-ever performance at a festival that the King of
Pop had never graced during his turbulent career, in Glastonbury. The star wowed the
crowds with a well-choreographed, hit-packed set in which she gave a shout-out to her siblings.
Janet Jackson always appeared to be closer to Michael than any of her other seven siblings.
And since the King of Pop's tragic death in 2009, his youngest sister has continued to
pay her tributes on social media.
In 2018, Janet commemorated what would have been Michael's 60th birthday by creating an
homage to one of his most famous music videos. The multiple chart-topper joined influencer
Kway Rogers to make a 71-second reimagining of the 1991 promo for "Remember the Time,"
which the latter uploaded on Instagram. On this occasion, it's Janet who takes the throne
to preside over several dancers whose moves also appear to be inspired by her late brother.
Two years later, Janet once again took to the photo-sharing platform to post a birthday
message to her "Scream" collaborator. And having previously spent a considerable amount
of time, money, and effort for his 60th, the star opted for something a little simpler
for his 62nd: a quote, "I miss u big bro" Instagram message accompanied by a kiss emoji.
In 2012, footage emerged of Janet Jackson appearing to slap a phone away from her niece
Paris outside her family's California compound. The incident allegedly occurred as Janet and
siblings Jermaine and Randy tried to force the youngster and her brothers Prince and
Blanket into a nearby car. And it doesn't seem as though their relationship has recovered
since.
Six years later Paris was notably absent as her aunt collected the Icon honor at the Billboard
Music Awards in front of several other family members. After being bombarded with questions
about her no-show, Michael Jackson's eldest took to Instagram to set the record straight.
She said:
"No one from my [management] reached out to me about attending [the ceremony] or about
the award, and no one from my family did either. I had absolutely no idea until y'all spammed
with hatred."
Paris, who's since launched her own music career, also issued a demand to her detractors
which alluded to a rift within the Jackson clan. She said:
"Dear social media followers, friends, stalkers, lovers and haters and fellow moonwalkers:
Please do not tell me/demand/try to control how I handle my relationship with the people
in my life, specifically my family. It is no one's business but ours."
Just a few months later, Janet and Paris were said to be at war again over payment of their
father/grandfather Joe Jackson's funeral.
While many members of the Jackson family stood up for Michael both before and after the screening
of Leaving Neverland — the HBO documentary in which two individuals alleged that they'd
been sexually abused by the King of Pop as children — Janet Jackson refused to be drawn
on the matter.
But in an interview with CBS show This Morning, nephew Taj argued that his aunt's silence
wasn't a sign that she believed the accusations. Taj told Gayle King that Janet feels the same
way as the rest of the family about the damaging claims: that money is the motive.
Taj said:
"I think there's a fear, as well, to put more energy to it and more eyeballs to it. I think
that's why my aunt Janet hasn't said anything because she doesn't want to make it any bigger."
Another of Taj's aunts, LaToya Jackson, has also kept quiet about the controversy, a stark
contrast to the comments she'd previously made about her brother back in the 1990s.
If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp
National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat
services.
Janet Jackson may have had a turbulent relationship with her father Joe. But judging by her 2019
interview with Australian magazine Stellar, she has nothing but admiration for her mother
Katherine.
While discussing the son she shares with former husband Wissam Al Mana, the singer revealed
that she'd found it tough being a working single parent. However, she found comfort
in the fact that her own mom managed to raise no fewer than nine children almost entirely
on her own. Janet added:
"I don't have a nanny. I do it all myself. Of course, when I'm working someone watches
him, but it's my baby and me. It's not easy at times, but my life has changed. Obviously
my baby comes first."
When asked whether she'd be comfortable with son Eissa launching a showbiz career of his
own in the future, Janet replied:
"I don't think it's for everybody. You really have to be thick-skinned for this. You can
really go in the wrong direction, there's so much temptation, all kinds of crazy things.
You have to be fiercely grounded."
Janet then remembered how she and her siblings would still have to carry out menial chores
at the height of their young stardom in a bid to stay grounded.
So after all the rumors about fallouts and feuds, is Janet Jackson still as close with
the rest of her siblings as she was while growing up? Well, in her 2019 interview with
Stellar, Janet claimed that she and the rest of the Jackson clan are still very much in
contact.
Unfortunately, their busy schedules mean that they now rarely get to hang out with each
other as much as they'd like, as Janet explained:
"We call each other and text a lot, we'll FaceTime. It bums me out my brothers will
tell me, 'Are you going to be in London? We're coming there, we have some shows. We want
to see you and the baby.' It'll just be my luck that I'm leaving town to go to the States."
However, The Nutty Professor 2 star revealed that this kind of scenario is nothing new.
Janet said:
"It's been like that all our lives; we just miss each other. Just recently they were in
the U.K. and I surprised them and showed up at their hotel and we spent some good quality
time together. That's important for a family."
Check out one of our newest videos right here! Plus, even more Nicki Swift videos about your
favorite stars are coming soon. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the bell so
you don't miss a single one.