Janet Jackson has remained mum about her split from Wissam Al Mana, but hit headlines last week when she broke down performing ‘What About’ – a song about abuse – during the Houston stop of her ‘State Of The World Tour.’
Now, in an unexpected move, her brother Randy has opened up in a new interview about the “verbal abuse” she allegedly received at the hands of her ex. He paints the picture of a painful home experience for the diva.
See what he had to say below…
Speaking to PEOPLE, Randy said:
“There’s a lot of pain. Janet’s been through a lot with her divorce. I’ve been through a lot, we all have.
It was quite an abusive situation. It came on later in the relationship, verbal abuse and being [made to feel like] a prisoner in her own home. No pregnant woman needs to go through being called a bitch everyday. There were things like that. That’s what she went through.
I told [Janet], ‘You’ve got to move in with me or I’m going to go over there and there’s going to be hell.’ She was really pissed off. I told her, ‘I don’t care anymore. I’m tired of it. It’s too much.’
What you saw in Houston, it was her situation coming out, what she’s been going through. [Moreover] the abuse is still going on. She has custody and he of course allowed her to bring the baby on tour, but it’s constant harassment. This tour almost didn’t happen, but by the grace of God we’re here and we’re very prayerful.”
55-year-old Randy also revealed that the Jackson family are rallying around Janet, who is the youngest:
“I didn’t want [the] to know. My parents are up there in age so I wanted to protect them as much as possible, but now they know. Everybody in the family knows.”
He also refutes claims that religion played a role in the couple’s split. Contrary to reports about conversion to Islam, he asserts that Janet is a Christian. However, religious differences aren’t the problem, he says:
“I have a lot of Muslim friends and they don’t act that way at all. It’s a personal issue that he needs help with and I’m going to pray for him, too. But I’m not going to allow her to live in that abusive situation. She’s my baby sister.”
As for why he decided to speak up and out, Randy said:
“It’s not about anger or vengeance. [Janet “wants Eissa to have a mother and a father. But the couple’s issues have grown too large.] We don’t like to put our business out there but sometimes transparency helps you. The devil thrives in darkness. I’m just here supporting her through this time.”
Attorneys for Wissam said in a rebuttal statement:
“Mr. Al Mana is not going to dignify these particular and deeply hurtful allegations with a response.
The breakdown of his marriage to Janet Jackson is a cause of great sadness to Mr. Al Mana, and it is the wellbeing and privacy of their son, Eissa, that remains his sole focus.”
Wow, all round.