Did Janet Jackson Have a Secret Baby With James DeBarge? ‘They Were Saying I Had a Child and I kept It Secret’
Janet Jackson has spent a lifetime carving out a career as a performer alongside her famous brothers, The Jackson Five. The youngest of ten children, the “Rhythm Nation” singer admired her brother, Michael Jackson, the King of Pop.
In a recently aired Lifetime and A&E documentary about her life, Jackson talked about growing up in a family of performers. The four-part docuseries includes never-before-seen footage and gives fans an intimate look at the making of her music.
Janet Jackson also discussed some of the rumors told about her over the years, including one that addressed a “secret baby” with her ex-husband James DeBarge. Here’s what she had to say.
‘That’s not right’
In 1984, the “What Have You Done for Me Lately” performer secretly married DeBarge. She was only 18 years old. The following year, the marriage was annulled.
During that same time, Jackson was working on the hit television series Fame. In the second part of the new docuseries, the legendary performer explained that she was taking birth control pills and started gaining weight. Rumors began swirling in the tabloids that she was pregnant.
Some of the fabricated stories included her niece being her daughter and another child she supposedly gave to her brother Jackie to raise. According to People, there were even rumors that her brother Randy’s daughter belonged to her because they looked alike. None of those rumors proved true.
After 40 years, Jackson finally set the record straight, saying she never had a baby with DeBarge. The “When I Think of You” singer explained, “Back in the day, they were saying that I had a child and I kept it secret.” She said, “I could never keep a child away from James. How could I keep a child from their father? I could never do that. That’s not right.”
Insider reported that, in 2017, DeBarge attempted to reveal a secret child. The rumor was squashed after a paternity test proved he and the girl were not related.
How many kids does Janet Jackson have?
The 55-year-old artist married two more times after the failed relationship with her first husband. In 1991, she married Rene Elizondo, Jr., her former backup dancer. The couple stayed together until a brutal divorce in 2000 and did not have any children together.
In 2012, Jackson walked down the aisle once again, this time with billionaire businessman Wissam Al Mana. The Poetic Justice star gave birth to her first and only child, Eissa, in 2017. She shocked fans with the announcement of her pregnancy at the age of 50. Three months after giving birth, the couple separated, citing cultural differences.
The once-happy couple has not yet filed for divorce. In the recent docuseries, Jackson made no mention of her relationship with Al Mana, despite being open about other men in her life.
‘It’s Janet… Ms. Jackson if you’re nasty’
According to Biography, Jackson is “one of the best-selling artists in contemporary music.”
Selling over 100 million records, the five-time Grammy winner has been awarded 11 American Music Awards, 10 MTV Video Music Awards, and 11 Billboard Music Awards. She has earned countless honors and recognition for her lifetime contribution as a performer.
Jackson started her career in the entertainment industry playing Penny from 1977-1979 on the television comedy series Good Times. Her top-selling albums include Control, The Velvet Rope, Rhythm Nation 1814, and Unbreakable.
In 2004, the “Escapade” singer underwent intense scrutiny when she experienced an infamous “wardrobe malfunction” while performing at the Super Bowl Halftime Show with Justin Timberlake.
According to Entertainment Weekly, the singer has moved on from the rumors, saying, “Justin and I are very good friends, and we will always be very good friends. We spoke just a few days ago, and he and I have moved on. And it’s time for everyone else to do the same.”
Hopefully, now that she has set the record straight about her supposed “secret child,” everyone can move on from that rumor as well.
