- Pop Base
- Posts
- Pop Base: Janet Jackson disclaims manager, Erik Menendez slams Ryan Murphy’s Monsters and More!
Pop Base: Janet Jackson disclaims manager, Erik Menendez slams Ryan Murphy’s Monsters and More!
Welcome to Pop Base! As your best source for all things pop culture, check out our curated newsletters to stay up-to-date on your favorite celebs, entertainment news, award show coverage, chart updates, and much more.
Janet Jackson disclaims “manager” and unauthorized apology to Kamala Harris
Singer Janet Jackson denied issuing an apology over her recent statement questioning the racial identity of Democrat presidential bet Kamala Harris. The apology was published by Mo Elmasri, who identified himself as her manager and now asserts that he was "fired" for making the statement.
“I no longer work for her. I was fired by Janet and Randy, after attempts to improve her image in front of public opinion and her fans, and this is something I do not deserve,” Elmasri explained.
Meanwhile, Jackson’s representatives denied ever having a connection with Elmasri. In fact, the singer has been managed by her brother Randy Jackson for years.
The apology in question was sent out as a press release to various media outlets. “Janet Jackson would like to clarify her recent comments. She recognizes that her statements regarding Vice President Kamala Harris’ racial identity were based on misinformation,” the statement reads.
“Janet respects Harris’ dual heritage as both Black and Indian and apologizes for any confusion caused. She values the diversity Harris represents and understands the importance of celebrating that in today’s society. Janet remains committed to promoting unity and understanding,” it added.
This was released after the singer had an interview with Variety where she espoused that Kamala was “not black” but “Indian.” When the interviewer informed her that Harris was both, the singer insisted that she “was told that they discovered [Harris’] father was white.”
Harris’ father, Donald Harris, was born in Jamaica while her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was born in India.
Erik Menendez slams Ryan Murphy’s Monsters
Source: Netflix
Erik Menendez, one of the brothers who were convicted for the murder of their parents, calls out Netflix and Ryan Murphy for their “inaccurate” and “dishonest portrayal” of their family in its true crime series Monsters.
In a post on X, his wife Tammi Menendez shared a statement from Erik, which reads: “It is sad for me to know that Netflix’s dishonest portrayal of the tragedies surrounding our crime have taken the painful truths several steps backward—back through time to an era when the prosecution built a narrative on a belief system that males were not sexually abused, and that males experienced rape trauma differently than women.”
He spoke against the series’ malicious depiction of his brother, Lyle. “I believed we had moved beyond the lies and ruinous character portrayals of Lyle, creating a caricature of Lyle rooted in horrible and blatant lies rampant in the show,” he asserted.
“How demoralizing to know that one man with power can undermine decades of progress in shedding light on childhood trauma,” Erik added.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story started streaming on Netflix last September 19. It is a ten-part series revolving around the brutal murders of Jose and Mary Louise Menendez in 1989. It starred Cooper Koch as Erik and Nicholas Alexander Chaves as Lyle.
The More You Know
BABYMONSTER is set to release a full-length debut album this year.
ILLIT reveals the title of their upcoming album: I’LL LIKE YOU. It will be out on October 21st.
aespa also unveiled the release date for their highly-anticipated fifth mini album “Whiplash.” It will be available on all streaming platforms on October 21st.
In a post on X, Doja Cat debunked the engagement rumors sparked by fans who saw a ring on her finger at iHeartRadio Music Festival: “no, im not engaged its a David Yurman ring with no rocks in it.”
During Paramore’s set at iHeartRadio Music Festival, Hayley Williams took the time to urge their fans to vote and win the fight against Donald Trump: “Project 2025 is Donald Trump’s playbook for controlling and punishing women, poor people, people of color & the LGBTQ+ community. […] Do you want to live in a dictatorship? Well show up and vote!”