Janet Jackson broke her silence to speak on the legacy of her late brother following renewed allegations of sexual assault.
Though Jackson didn’t directly address the allegations leveled against Michael Jackson in the documentary Leaving Neverland, she told the Sunday Times that she believes Michael’s legacy “will continue.”
Jackson cited children who pretend to be the King of Pop even though they were born after MJ passed away nearly 10 years ago.
"I love it when I see kids emulating him, when adults still listen to his music. It just lets you know the impact that my family has had on the world,” she said. "I hope I'm not sounding arrogant in any way -- I'm just stating what it is. It's really all God's doing, and I'm just thankful for that.”
Janet has largely avoided the discourse around her brother, though she reportedly opted out of performing at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony because it airs on HBO, the same network that aired a documentary purporting to unearth years of sexual abuse by Michael Jackson.
While Janet never took on the accusations head-on, MJ’s 83-year-old mother, Katherine Jackson, said that she believes the men at the center of the new documentary are lying.
“Wade Robson is lying through his teeth and he knows it. And anybody can say it that knows it, knows Michael," she said in an interview with 60 Minutes. "Wade knows better. Wade just wants money."
Katherine added that the multiple accusers during Michael’s lifetime were also lying, in her estimation.
“It was hard on me because I knew all the time that Michael didn't do it," she said of the two cases against Jackson while he was alive. "I had no doubt. I know he didn't do it...both families lied.“
