In a headline-grabbing moment, Vice President Kamala Harris laughed off rumors that Janet Jackson might be “mad” at her over her late brother Michael, while setting the record straight on her own racial identity. The questions flew during a live town hall with Charlamagne Tha God, who didn’t shy away from asking the tough stuff. The vice president dismissed the “Twitter-fueled” story, saying she hasn’t even spoken to Jackson about it. “That’s just not true,” she laughed, putting rumors to rest.
The whole ordeal kicked off when Jackson reportedly said in a UK interview that she’d heard Harris isn’t actually Black but Indian, even suggesting Harris’s father was white. It didn’t take long for the internet to blow up, especially after Jackson distanced herself from a so-called “apology” issued on her behalf and fired her PR person. Harris, whose father is a Black Jamaican and mother an Indian scientist, regularly deals with questions on her identity but was quick to set the record straight, brushing off the debate with typical Kamala calm.
But the rumors weren’t the only talking points Charlamagne took on. He pressed Harris on everything from her cannabis prosecution record to her stance on immigration. While defending her past as a “progressive prosecutor,” Harris rebuffed accusations of locking up thousands for pot offenses, claiming she worked for reform, not conviction. “I was the most progressive prosecutor in California on marijuana cases,” she said, before criticizing what she calls “purposeful disinformation” aimed at undermining her accomplishments.
Charlamagne dug deeper, questioning the Biden administration’s handling of the border crisis. Harris pushed back, pointing fingers at Congress for stalling on much-needed immigration reform. In a final, electrifying exchange, Harris reaffirmed her stance on reparations, saying she fully supports studying them for descendants of slavery.
This town hall made one thing clear: Harris is ready to tackle criticism head-on, laughing at rumors and laying down the facts.
