Janet Jackson’s ex-husband James DeBarge is sick of keeping quiet about rumors the former couple has a secret daughter, insisting it’s all true.
Janet Jackson eloped with fellow singer DeBarge in 1984, but their marriage didn’t last and it was annulled in 1985.
Earlier this year, DeBarge hit headlines when he revealed he had received an email from a woman claiming to be his daughter, and alleged he had had no idea Janet was ever pregnant during their relationship.
He told the National Enquirer he had kept in touch with the woman, and had since come to believe the superstar hid her pregnancy after their split so she could give the baby up for adoption.
Now he has spoken out about the secret child once more, after he was confronted about the gossip by his 26-year-old daughter Kristinia, an aspiring singer/songwriter, in an upcoming episode of U.S. reality show Growing Up Hip Hop.
“I’m tired of the secrecy,” he tells Kristinia as he comes clean in a newly-released promo clip, obtained by Entertainment Tonight. “I’m tired of the truth not coming forward, and people being a coward when it comes to it. And I thought it was wise for me to speak out now because it needs to be addressed.”
He continues, “To be honest with you, I didn’t know. I was under the impression that there was no baby, and I wanted to believe it’s not true. But it is.”
It is not known if DeBarge has since met the child Janet allegedly had adopted, but he previously claimed he was too afraid to see her face-to-face.
Janet’s representatives have yet to comment on her ex’s remarks, which emerge as the 50-year-old superstar prepares to welcome her first child with husband Wissam Al Mana.
