He also cooked up steak sandwiches, sweet potato pies and other soul foods he could hawk on the streets of Detroit. tW#8j. El and Chico have relaunched successful solo careers, and the group DeBarge is back on the road, with James as lead singer along with Marty, Randy and Tommy, plus grandson Andrew DeBarge on lead guitar and granddaughter Alana DeBarge singing Bunnys vocals. She was always a real lady, a real classy person. As Janet prepares to have a baby at age 50 with new hubby Wissam Al Mana, rumors of this secret love child have come roaringback. Etterline was just 16. Download theGrio.com today! I could never do that, that's not right.". "I think we were just so both in love with each other that we just needed to block everyone else out.". And at that time I thought that there was no other way I would be able to kind of get my own life unless I got married.. When you have somebody say youre too heavy, it affects you.. Janet Jackson Janet Jackson He was a sweet guy. Subconsciously, when it comes to relationships, somehow Im attracted to people that use drugs.. Despite her familys future R&B stylings, DeBarge has always much preferred gospel music and romantic ballads by the likes of Nat King Cole. He was insanely jealous, she said. pic.twitter.com/k0WuRJa4WP. El DeBarge speaks on Janets mystery baby. During the documentary she also laughed off other rumours, including that her brother Randys daughter, Stevanna, was actually her daughter. I just want my child to know Im her father.. He was given a second chance, and it was as if he had never left the business. (El suffered a relapse in February and spent time in rehab. Finally, in the mid-70s, Mama D had had enough. She was always a real lady, a real classy person.. James' mother, Etterlene DeBarge, also spoke with Inside Edition because she believed she found James' child. And while the point of the interview was supposed to be an apology to Janet for how the family handled the rumors, instead Bunny doubled down. Copyright 2023 Distractify. We spoke just a few days ago, and he and I have moved on. DeBarge said the woman asked if they could take a paternity test, but it hasnt happened yet because hes afraid to meet her. The marriage, however, was short-lived (Janets father, Joe, had the union annulled within a year), but like his brother, Bobby, James became close to Janets brother, Michael. Follow us onTwitter. Enter The Mostyn Law and 1-800-TRUCKWRECK 5K For Mother's Day Giveaway!! Janet Jackson reveals Michael Jackson teased her about weight in new doc, Janet Jackson talks growth, body confidence and aging on cover of Allure magazine, Janet Jackson talks brother Michaels molestation accusations in documentary trailer. There were times when Mike used to tease me and call me names, she recalled, before listing examples: Pig, horse, slaughter hog, cow., He would laugh about it and Id laugh too, but then there was somewhere down inside that it would hurt, she continued. Mama gave me her last $40 to go to California, said Marty DeBarge. Hes my dad. In October 2009, El was released from prison and rebooted his recording career. ", "I don't know why anyone would trust me," DeBarge joked during his appearance in the docuseries. Thats because Mama D has lived through enough heartache and joy to plot 10 miniseries. "He said, 'Okay, I'll be right back,'" Jackson said. DeBarge claims that he wouldnt have cut the girl out of his life had he known she existed for sure. I cared so much for him, and I saw the good in him as well, and I just wanted that to take precedence as opposed to this ugliness. He died at age 39 of AIDS, which he contracted in prison. They were my babies. How could I keep a child away from their father? How could I keep a child from their father? 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. We found 107 80s acts on tour in 2023. Who are they? And for three hours, he never came back. When I realized addiction was a sickness, it helped me deal with it better. She called me papa, DeBarge said. El Debarge Reunites With Daughter After 15 My mother wore an apron, which was always wet because she was constantly scrubbing clothes with lye soap for her 11 children. James Abney moved to Grand Rapids with his brother, William Jr., his fathers namesake, who would become Bishop Abney, a legend in the Grand Rapids community for his leadership at Bethel Pentecostal Church, 834 Lake Drive SE. After decades of rumors about Janet Jackson and James DeBarges daughter and claims they had a secret child before their divorce, the conspiracy theories She wanted to do it quietly. UPDATE: Private Investigator Details How Whitney Houston Was Murdered, You Must Ask Your Daughters Boyfriend These 10 Questions. "There are a lot of nights that I would go searching the streets looking for him eight o'clock in the morning, four o'clock in the morning," Jackson said. She got very angry. Her granddaughter Kristinia released her first album, on Island Def Jam Records, under the mentorship of Kenneth Babyface Edmonds, and the disc produced the No. Janet Jackson's 'Secret Daughter' - Contactmusic.com Insiderreported that, in 2017, DeBarge attempted to reveal a secret child. This is an awesome moment.. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Even though she was the preacher's sister, DeBarge sometimes fell asleep during Bishop William Abney's sermons, prompting her big brother to pick on her. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. And its just hurtful for someone to see that and just try to take advantage of it Its still painful., In a 2016 appearance on Growing Up Hip Hop, in which his daughter, Kristinia DeBarge, was a cast member, DeBarge himself seemed to confirm the rumor. Janet Jackson I remember times when I would find the pills and I would take them and try to flush them down the toilet, and we would be rolling around on the floor fighting for them I cared so much for him, and I saw the good in him as well, and I just wanted that to take precedence as opposed to this ugliness, cause I knew that he needed help. James' mother, Etterlene DeBarge, also spoke with Inside Edition because she believed she found James' child. Rumors began swirling in the tabloids that she was pregnant. The 55 Mama D, she understands my pain, she said, smiling a dazzling smile. Her sons El and Chico recently released critically acclaimed albums (Els Second Chance was nominated last year for two Grammy awards). Like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (from the Bible), Jesus was in the fiery furnace with me, DeBarge said. They went to Grand Rapids, Mich. and eloped. "My name is Tiffany Whyte and I'm the daughter of Janet Jackson and James DeBarge," she said. She also talked about her new jewelry line, Kendallicious Kreations. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. One of the long-standing claims being addressed in "Janet" is that Jackson secretly had a baby during their brief marriage. In a newly released clip from WE TV's Growing Up Hip Hop, 53 The youngest of ten children, the Rhythm Nation singer admired her brother, Michael Jackson, the King of Pop. Janet Jackson "I don't know, maybe it's this person in me that wants to help people," she recalled. KMJQ Featured Video. A lot of outside influences were involved in our whole relationship to where we didnt have a chance from the gate.. Nobody knows that pain but a mother, she said. Some People Think The Claims Against Him Were Just a Distraction. He took advantage of me being naive and 17 without a father to help guide me.. "He'd say, 'Will someone please wake my sister up?' That has haunted the family a long time I think we all believe that James and Janet had a child.. So when the girl emailed him, DeBarge was overwhelmed by emotions. I started dating him when I was 16, Jackson said. Courtesy of A+E DeBarges drug abuse would contribute to more problems for the Her mother, Etterlene DeBarge, believed Whytes claim that she was the couples long, lost child. I could never keep a child away from James. In March 2017, James' sister Bunny DeBarge wanted to clear the air, so she reached out to Inside Edition, where all the classy air cleaning happens. In the second part of the new docuseries, the legendary performer explained that she was taking birth control pills and started gaining weight. So that rumor started going around.. DeBarge was one of the few Motown success stories of the 1980s. After 40 years, Jackson finally set the record straight, saying she never had a baby with DeBarge. Soon after the couple married, the young bride found out her groom had a dark side, only hinted at during their short courtship. A lot of the kids thought I was pregnant, cause I had gained weight, and I had started taking birth control pills, she said. She spoke about how DeBarge left her alone in a hotel room for three hours. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. In 2017, a Philadelphia woman named Tiffany Whyte claimed to be Jackson and James daughter an occurrence Bunny DeBarge says has happened at least 10 times. I didnt know. He was so jealous of Bobby, because Bobby and I were so close, DeBarge said. In a recently aired Lifetime and A&E documentary about her life, Jackson talked about growing up in a family of performers. And its time for everyone else to do the same.. Celebrities That Had Kids At A Shockingly Young Age. Together with Grand Rapids native Greg Williams and Philip Ingram, James Ingrams brother, they formed the funk group Switch under the patronage of Jermaine Jackson, who was blown away by their ability to switch to different instruments during a song. ("~2}OGx#,W{wX40?[3p+{_}]cnNlta=7\(~jlNGcz1-gX%6~VOk'nMEm>Yk#Bmx s f8_E'XiN{#va;/$2?pXpon'F{903GoZ\kc lhi#- t.|kn/SHg}mhQ2r{2{Bo!^+=pV2)sobs l7~l>3K^4^O>t0as]bsg=Fp}qxywJzV^,,9osnl; w Janet Jackson's Ex-Sister-in-Law Apologizes Over Singer's Gospel music was my passion when I was young. During part one of the documentary, Jackson revealed that her late brother Michael Jacksonused to fat-shame her, calling her a pig and slaughter hog. Legendary Motown founder Berry Gordy played the same trick on the DeBarges he had played on the Jacksons: He exalted one of them above the others. Janet Jackson Finally Addresses Secret Love Child I dont care how no good I was, he said in that letter. 2 Night Documentary Event ? I pray for and support and love all my children, no matter what.. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. by her father Joe Jackson, whose abusive methods turned her brothers into The Jackson Five. By day, Abney sold peanuts as a street vendor, enlisting his children to help. WebEl DeBarge has 12 children. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, How Hawks are handling Janet Jackson-concert dilemma after dramatic win, I had a Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction while teaching math class. He thought El would be most likely to succeed, Mama D said. Advertisement Simply put, Jackie Jackson raised the alleged daughter of Janet Jackson. We don't know how, but Etterlene thought then 31-year-old Philadelphia native Tiffany Whyte was the daughter of James DeBarge and Janet Jackson. Janet Jackson never forgot her former mother-in-law. I just had to be with her all the time. But any wedded bliss the couple shared turned out to be short-lived. He kept me pregnant, and it was very difficult for me to know what to do with 10 children. 1 single on the dance chart and three No. She confirmed it on the deathbed., James said he always had his suspicions that Janet had a baby. Heres what she had to say. No one else but God, me and Janet.. Distractify is a registered trademark. He was a nice guy., But although they felt safe with each other, DeBarge admitted, I dont know why anyone would trust me., The young lovebirds would sneak around to see each other as much as possible. Theres no way it could not have been hidden. At 17, Etterlene and her twin sister were hanging out at their favorite place, the roller rink, when she met an Army soldier named Robert Barnes. Janet did eventually become a mum, giving birth to a son Eissa in January 2017, shortly before her split from businessman husband Wissam Al Mana. In the documentary, Janet says, point blank, "I could never keep a child from James. My emotions were all over the place. Speculation about a secret child began swirling as soon as James and Janet broke up. It wasnt easy for us to see each other being that she was very well protected by her mom and dad, said DeBarge. People always tell me, You all were supposed to be the next Jacksons, and I say, God knew I couldnt handle (that kind of fame) for my children, Mama D said. When the pop star would tour through Grand Rapids, she always made sure Mama D had tickets to the show. Sign up for notifications from Insider! Janet Jackson addresses rumors she had a secret baby in the 80s The "Rhythm Nation" singer opened up about speculation that she welcomed a baby with I was extremely fearful of him. Janet Jackson has a secret teenage daughter called RENEE, according to the singer's former brother-in-law. She also attributed weight gain at that time to the birth control she was on. And in an open letter published in the magazine that same year, DeBarge himself cried out to Jackson to reveal the truth to him. I felt kind of left out and I felt like it was unfair. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Born in Detroit in 1935, she and her twin sister, Ernestine, were the youngest girls in William and Bessie Abneys family of 11 children. DeBarge says the woman wanted to keep their new connection private. James' bombastic revelation came at a particularly sensitive time, as Janet was expecting her first child at 50, and gave birth to her son Eissa Al Mana in January 2017. None of those rumors proved true. Three months after giving birth, the couple separated, citing cultural differences. She says that, at the time, she was taking birth control pills, which caused her to gain weight. , Watch El DeBarge and Faith Evans Lay It Down In the Studio, El DeBarge on His Return From Drug Addiction, Lizzo Shut Down Candace Owens Fatphobic Comments With An Affirming Instagram Reel. From every angle, from inside and outside Not knowing how it could hurt her career. The 55-year-old artist addressed the rumours in the second part of the forthcoming documentary Janet, along with a number of other gossip items she had heard about herself over the years. And back then, you could pick up weight taking them, and thats what happened to me. Smile in the morning, smile in the evening, smile when the sun goes down , Today I decided not to let anyone take my smile, she says, a grin in her voice. Did Janet Jackson Ever Address Bobby Browns Claim of Their Affair? El Debarge girlfriends: El DeBarge was previously married to Monica Debarge. He had at least 2 relationship previously. El Debarge has not been previously engaged. El DeBarge has been in a relationship with Pebbles. We are currently in process of looking up information on the previous dates and hookups. It depends on who you ask, but we're gonna go with what Janet Jackson herself says which is no. Shes always been so glamorous., She's an avid garage sale shopper, having picked up that thrifty tip from her mother, Bessie Abney. Once she became famous in her own right, it was only a matter of time before she would be on the receiving end of some wild rumors. We would be rolling on the floor fighting for them, she said. She was still heavily controlled (get it?) She didnt even want Janet to know., She described as much as she could tell me because she was very fearful at the time, he continued. Janet Jackson Her singing voicemail messages are just one way she takes after her daddy. American singer, songwriter and actress (born 1966), American singer, songwriter, and dancer (19582009), used to fat-shame her, calling her a pig and slaughter hog, For only the second time in its history, the US Navy is beginning the slow, tricky process of taking apart a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, A Towering, Terrifying Demon Horse Isnt Even the Weirdest Part, Man who lost wife, son in Texas mass shooting tells story, Roman Polanski and the woman he pleaded guilty to raping pose together 45 years later, Hunter Biden appears in court for paternity case, What happens if you need to be medically evacuated from a cruise, 71-year-old Sarasota women dies, others seriously hurt in US 41 crash in Manatee County, Yosemite Valley reopens Sunday ahead of schedule, Hunt continues in Texas for man who murdered 5 neighbors after they asked him to stop shooting. "She has been denying me for many years. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Through all the hurting and grief, the musical mother never wavered in her faith, nor was she tempted to numb her anguish with alcohol or pills. She shocked fans with the announcement of her pregnancy at the age of 50. "And I'm sitting in a hotel room in Grand Rapids, Michigan, by myself, just 18. Shes like, Papa I want to help you out. She had so much of personality and she was so accurate with everything she was saying, it was only things that I and Janet know. The miniseries will be based on her 2008 self-published memoir, The Other Side of the Pain., God will receive the glory from this miniseries, she said. I do believe my mother being up and age now [81] ran with it once the DNA came back that she was 96 percent kin, Bunny said. "I remember times when I would find the pills and I would take them and try to flush them down the toilet, and we would be rolling around on the floor fighting for them, that's not a life for anyone," Jackson said in the documentary. WebDeBarge has three children: daughter Kristinia (born March 8, 1990), son James, Jr. (born 1998), and his youngest, daughter Tori (born 2001). Later that night while at a hotel, James told Janet he would "be right back," but didn't return for several hours. Mama said, Please be careful, I love you, God be with you. Lifetime/A&E January 28 + 29 Be There or Be Square! WELCOME TO THE FAMILY! In 2004, the Escapade singer underwent intense scrutiny when she experienced an infamous wardrobe malfunction while performing at theSuper Bowl Halftime Showwith Justin Timberlake. In her "Janet Jackson" documentary, the singer says DeBarge's drug use led to his long absences. It would have to be hidden from me if she wasnt a part of my life all the time and I didnt know anything about her, he explained. She said, Hes got three strikes against him: Hes a soldier, I dont know him and hes Caucasian, Mama D said. I dont know, maybe its this person in me that wants to help people. Although this is the first time weve physically met, I do feel a connect. The two met when the sibling group DeBarge made its debut on Soul Train while Jackson was there with sister LaToya and brother Jermaine. But it is., His sister, Bunny DeBarge,saidthe following year that her family still believes Jackson was pregnant by James when their marriage was annulled. But I wasnt the help that he needed.. DeBarge said the woman asked ifthey could take a paternity test, but it hasnt happened yet because hes afraid to meet her. Janet Jackson They didnt want us to have anything, he said. Dont let nobody take your smile, its not worth your while, she trills on her voicemail, in the most beautiful, high, clear voice. In the documentary, Jackson, now 55, denied she had a child with DeBarge. Their first child was a girl, Etterlene Bunny DeBarge, born in 1955. That eventually led to the duo deciding to get married in 1984, with Jackson getting a blessing from LaToya though she kept her plans hidden from the rest of her family. I didnt like James Brown at all!, If you want to find Mama D, just look at the beauty shop. Throughout the 2000s, Janet Jackson was romantically linked to record producer and rapper Jermaine Dupri. Jackson, who is known for keeping her personal life low-key, had previously been married to DeBarge singer James DeBarge in the 1980s and video director Ren Elizondo in the 1990s. He led an equally turbulent personal life, in which he allegedly fathered some 10 children with six women. That filial love was put to the test just a few years later, after the quartet DeBarge (soon to be a quintet when brother James joined the group), became one of the most successful R&B/pop groups of the 80s.