Janet Jackson's Ex-Sister-in-Law Apologizes Over Singer's 'Secret Daughter' Controversy
Janet Jackson’s ex-sister-in-law has revealed that she does not believe a woman claiming to be the singer's daughter is related to her, and has apologized for her family's handling of the situation.
Bunny DeBarge's brother, James, and Janet eloped back in 1984. The marriage lasted just a year, but since it ended, speculation has been rampant that Jackson gave birth to a baby girl 31 years ago.
“That has haunted the family a long time,” Bunny told Inside Edition of the speculation.
The 62-year-old soul singer says she had firsthand knowledge of Jackson’s pregnancy.
She told Inside Edition that she recalls seeing Jackson pregnant, saying: “When the marriage was annulled... Janet was pregnant and James believed that as well.”
She added: "I think we all believe that James and Janet had a child."
In February, Inside Edition interviewed Bunny's mother, Etterlene DeBarge, who said she believes a 31-year-old woman from Philadelphia named Tiffany Whyte was Janet’s secret daughter.
Etterlene said that she became convinced after she and Tiffany took a DNA test.
Bunny, however, questions the validity of that test, claiming there's no way Tiffany is the secret child.
“I’m like, ‘Mom, maybe she’s some kin to you but she's not James and Janet’s daughter. Come on now,” she recalled. She also noted that Whyte, does not look like James or Janet.
Bunny believes Whyte is just seeking fame and that she's one of many who've contacted her family claiming to be Janet’s secret daughter.
Bunny added that she guesses 10 women have come forward to claim they are the secret child.
"I’m the daughter of Janet Jackson and James DeBarge," Whyte said in a recent interview. "It is for sure that they are my parents.”
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Bunny is also apologizing to the "Got Till It’s Gone" singer for how her mother went public with the DNA results.
“I would apologize to Janet and tell her as a family we would not have done it like that,” she said.
But Etterlene is standing by the DNA results and continues to believe that Tiffany is Janet and James’ daughter.
Jackson recently gave birth to a baby boy at 50. Calls for comment by Inside Edition to the pop superstar were not returned.
Watch: Relatives Congratulate Janet Jackson, 50, After the Birth of Her Son
