Legendary singer, Janet Jackson claims her late brother Michael Jackson bullied her about her fluctuating weight, calling her a “pig” and a “slaughter hog”.
Addressing the fat-shaming comments in her new documentary, ‘Janet’, the singer remembers her painful relationship with Michael, and how his jokes affected her.
‘Janet’ chronicles the life of the 55-year-old pop star in the documentary that will air on Friday, January 28, 2022 and reveals a darker side to her relationship with her iconic brother.
“There were times when Mike used to tease me and call me names. Pig, horse, slut, or hog, cow. He would laugh about it, and I’d laugh too, but then there was somewhere down inside that it would hurt. When you have somebody say you’re too heavy, it affects you”.
Janet Jackson
After her brothers hit big as the Jackson 5, an 11-year-old Janet finally caught her own big break with a role on 1970s sitcom ‘Good Times’, playing Penny, a young girl from an abusive home who is adopted by the Woods family during the fifth season. That’s when her weight issues began.
Jackson, whose weight has fluctuated over the years said: “I did ‘Good Times’ and that’s the beginning of having weight issues and the way I looked at myself. I’m an emotional eater, so when I get stressed or something is really bothering me, it comforts me”.
In 2006, Janet grew to 180 pounds for a role, but keeping the weight off had been difficult. She later became a Nutrisystem spokesperson in 2011.
Adding to the awkwardness of Hollywood adolescence, she recalled, “I was developing at a very young age and I started getting a chest and they would bind it so I would look more flat-chested”.
Janet Jackson noted that she believes fame is responsible for many of her troubles. Without it, she opined, “I probably would have wound up not having a problem”.
Having the Jackson name comes with “a great deal of scrutiny” she emphasized, especially during Michael’s widely publicized controversies and court battles.
“It was frustrating for me. We have our own separate lives and even though he’s my brother, that has nothing to do with me. But, I wanted to be there for him, to support him as much as I possibly could”.
Janet Jackson
Michael’s legal troubles began with an accusation by 13-year-old Jordan Chandler in 1993, who said the entertainer had touched him inappropriately at his Neverland Ranch home. They settled out of court in January 1994 for $23 million.
Speaking on that issue, Janet disclosed, “Michael wound up giving money to the family. He just wanted it to go away, but that looks like you’re guilty”.
As a result, Janet’s career also suffered. According to Janet, “When that came out, Coca-Cola said, ‘No, thank you’. Guilty by association. That’s what they call it, right?”
Janet Jackson also looked back on the ‘Thriller’ premiere in 1982 as the moment when her relationship with Michael took a turn.
“That’s when it all started to change. I remember really loving the ‘Thriller’ album, but for the first time in my life I felt it was different between us, a shift was happening. That’s the time Mike and I started going our separate ways. He just wasn’t as fun as he used to be”.
Janet Jackson
After more than four decades in the entertainment business, Janet now boasts estimated global record sales of 100 million, 10 No. 1s on the US charts and numerous acting credits.
“I am thankful [for the Jackson name] because it has opened a great deal of doors for me, having that name. I wanted my own identity, I didn’t want people to pick up this body of music because of my last name”.
Janet Jackson
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