Does Janet Jackson Have a Secret Daughter? Inside Her Personal Life

Janet Jackson comes from a family of performers that needs no introduction even now when they are well past their prime. 

Understandably, Janet has been in the limelight since forever. Being in the spotlight comes with its own set of problems, one of them being rumors. 

Ever since Janet got married and divorced as a teenager, there has been a rumor going around that she has a secret daughter. 

Janet Jackson & James DeBarge's Marriage

On September 7, 1984, Janet quietly eloped with James DeBarge, an up-and-coming star out of another hit performing family from the '80s. 

At the time, Janet was just 18 years old, while her husband was 21 years old.

Although the Jackson and the DeBarge family were acquaintances operating within the same industry, Janet's dadager Joseph Jackson was not for the starlet's marriage, as per Mirror reports. 

Less than one year later, the marriage had ended. The outlet reported Joe had the marriage annulled when news of his son-in-law being a cocaine addict surfaced.

Just like that, Janet's teenage romance was over. She and her first husband parted ways, and that was that.

James DeBarge Claimed Secret Daughter Existed

Well, that was until James' brother Young DeBarge spoke up in 2005. 

Young claimed Janet and James had a secret daughter who was 18 years old at the time. He added his supposed niece named Renee Jackson was living with Janet's oldest sister, Rebbie. 

"James and the Jackson family kept everything real close, real tight," Young said on New York radio station Hot 97 (via People).

"No one really knew how it was working out until things kind of surfaced," he added. 

Young also expected his niece to have harbored resentment because her mother refused to acknowledge her. 

Janet Jackson Denied Having Secret Daughter

Young's statement spread like wildfire and made headlines all over the place. 

So, Janet had to take it upon herself to clear the air for good.

She released a statement to Access Hollywood a week later to dismiss Young's allegations. "I do not have a child and all allegations saying so are false," she insisted.

James DeBarge Affirmed Secret Child Rumors

The subject of Janet having a secret daughter resurfaced in 2016 when the supposed father, James, claimed he had a baby with Janet. 

During an appearance on Growing Up Hip Hop in 2016, he said he was tired of the truth not coming forward. 

"And I thought it was wise for me to speak out now because it needs to be addressed," the musician added, "To be honest with you, I didn't know."

Apparently, he too was under the impression that his marriage with Janet ended without her getting pregnant, but he admitted he was wrong. 

Janet Jackson with the legendary Michael Jackson. (Source: Instagram)

As per the supposed father, Janet was pregnant when their marriage was annulled. She gave birth to the much-rumored daughter secretly and gave her up for adoption. 

James DeBarge's Mother Showed up with DNA Reports

James' mother, Etterlene DeBarge, added fuel to the rumor mill that was already ablaze. 

She came forward to claim a woman from Philadelphia named Tiffany Whyte was Janet's secret daughter.

Etterlene even took a DNA test with her supposed granddaughter to make her point heard.

Sadly, Whyte wasn't the only one. She was among several women who came forward, claiming to be the long-lost DeBarge-Jackson baby.

Meanwhile, Janet has chosen not to speak up on the matter. Instead, she has maintained that her son Eissa, whom she had with her third husband, is her only child.