Janet Jackson's former brother-in-law made a bombshell claim on a hip-hop radio station Friday — the sexy siren has a secret 18-year-old daughter. The stunning allegation came from Young DeBarge, whose brother James DeBarge was briefly married to Jackson, now 39, in the 1980s.

During an interview on Hot 97, Young said the busty star and his brother — a former member of another Motown family act — are the parents of "Renee," a daughter sent away in shame to live with the eldest of the famous Jackson siblings, Rebbie. "James and the Jackson family kept everything real close, real tight," Young DeBarge said. "No one really knew how it was working out until things kind of surfaced."

Janet Jackson's rep Patti Webster didn't deny the claim Friday, only saying the singer didn't wish to comment. And the young woman is not happy about her star mom's refusal to acknowledge her, the uncle said. "I think there's a little despondence," DeBarge said when asked about Renee's feelings for Jackson. "She hasn't really revealed that, but I'm sure that there's some feelings there. It's only natural that you wonder about what is and how it's come to be that way."

Jackson was just 18 when she and James DeBarge hooked up in 1984. Their marriage was annulled the next year. The couple eloped amid family furor over their relationship, but the marriage was annulled in March, 1985., with DeBarge's drug habit cited as the reason for the split.

--Cue Diana Ross.

Posted by: Lawrenkm at 08:57 AM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
Post contains 254 words, total size 2 kb.

1 The entire time I was reading the original article, I was thinking to myself, "Motivation - selling a book / releasing an albumn, selling a book / releasing an albumn, what's it gonna be?" (think about the Finkel/Einhorn scene in "Ace Ventura" ... then, I get to the last line and BINGO! This ex-brother-in-law has an albumn coming out ... give me a f*cking break.

Posted by: Iceman at October 25, 2005 09:01 AM (Iomwr)

2 I'd be "despondent" too if I found out I was blood to the Jacksons!

Posted by: Chef Bouillon at October 25, 2005 09:26 AM (J1WpH)

3 Wow! A black woman who actually had a baby IN wedlock??? Everyone is right - she should be ashamed of herself! I'd hide the 'legit' kid too! And ahte dauther has the same last name of her daddy for once, too? Wow, indeed!

Posted by: Johnny Chicago at October 25, 2005 09:44 AM (DN2Qz)

4 Hey, I thought that every time she blew up like a balloon, she had a kid. Let's see, that means she has at least four by now. Right? Didn't someone say that Lisa Marie is not really Lisa at all, but an imposter. And the real Lisa is in hiding?

Posted by: ohthose silly rumors at October 25, 2005 09:48 AM (Jcbti)

5 has anyone else done the math here. if they were married in 84 and divorced in 85 then shouldn't the daughter be about 20?

Posted by: Apedogg at October 25, 2005 10:02 AM (qgWF8)

6 I'm sorry miss jackson

Posted by: ren at October 25, 2005 12:41 PM (wPIeZ)

7 I heard that this morning, Ren!

Posted by: Lawren at October 25, 2005 12:50 PM (bJB+W)

8 After awhile, none of these bombshells seem very bombshelly.

Posted by: Neil at October 25, 2005 05:15 PM (iTOGJ)

Hide Comments | Add Comment