She has struggled with weight problems since childhood. In a new, candid documentary for cable network Lifetime, Janet Jackson reveals how much she suffered under the shadow of her brother Michael. She also blames him for the fact that she suffers from weight problems. She reveals that Michael teased her when she was a little girl because of her alleged overweight and called her “piggy”, among other things.
Janet Jackson: Michael kept insulting me
According to the 55-year-old, the “cruel sayings” of the later “King of Pop” still echo in her head today: “Mike kept throwing names at me like pig, horse, sow, cow or whore. He always laughed out loud and I laughed with him. But deep down it hurt me a lot. If someone tells you you’re too fat, it sticks!”
While they had been very close as children, Janet’s relationship with Michael had cooled over the years: “The break came after he hit ‘Thriller.’ That was the first time we went our separate ways. It wasn’t fun to do anything with him anymore.”
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When “Jacko” was accused by 13-year-old Jordan Chandler of sexually abusing him in 1993, it also had negative consequences for Janet: “It was so frustrating. We had our separate lives. And even though he was my brother, it had nothing to do with me.”
When Michael finally settled $23 million out of court with Chandler’s parents, Janet objected: “Michael paid because he wanted it to be over. But then it looked like he was guilty.” Which also sabotaged her biggest deal of all time: “I was supposed to sign a contract with Coca Cola. And what happened? Coca Cola said ‘No thanks!’ It was like a clan, or whatever you call it!”
Janet Jackson couldn’t save relationship with Michael
After that, she still tried to mend her relationship with Michael to support him in the difficult times. But he was dismissive and cold to her: “I wanted it to be like the old days between us. But the old days were gone.”
Then, when they recorded the song “Scream” together, “Jacko’s” team made sure the siblings were never on set together when shooting the music video: “It was like his record company was trying to play us off against each other. He only shot at night and I only shot during the day. It hurt a lot. I actually wanted to go into battle with him and not fight him.” However, she also admits that the Jackson surname has opened many doors for her in the music industry thanks to Michael: “I am very grateful for that. And yet I always wanted to develop my own identity.”
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Janet is single and raising her son Eissa (5) as a single mom. In 2017, she divorced her third husband, Wissam Al Mana. She had been married to the billionaire from Qatar and the father of her child for five years. Her first marriage, to singer James DeBarge, lasted just a year in 1984, and her second, to dancer Rene Elizondo Jr., from 1991 to 2000. According to the documentary, “I haven’t given up on my dream of love yet.” Jackson also knows that Finding Mr. Right is even harder for her than for others: “It’s especially difficult when you’re in the public eye and you’re looking for love. But a healthy relationship would be very nice for me in the future!”