Janelle Monáe recently faced backlash over a controversial video, but instead of addressing it directly, they let their actions do the talking. The video in question reenacted Michael Jackson’s notorious balcony-baby incident—a moment in pop culture history that not everyone is familiar with. Some fans were not amused by Monáe’s dark humor and expressed their disapproval. While Monáe didn’t respond to the criticism outright, they did remove the video from their page, suggesting some regret over sharing it. This tribute to Michael Jackson was certainly unusual and may have been intended to highlight the controversies in his life. Either way, it looks like this issue is no longer a hot topic.
This incident is especially intriguing given Monáe’s admiration for Michael Jackson and his sister, Janet Jackson. When Janet was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Monáe introduced her with high praise, saying, “We gather all around the world with your music as our soundtrack,” and calling her the “legendary queen of Black girl magic.” They also added, “We applaud you for your commitment to excellence [and] we celebrate you for giving us memories we wish we could bottle up and save for the next lifetime. History is not complete without you, Janet.”
In a different context, Monáe discussed how they select movie roles, offering a unique perspective. “Really, I love to get to know the characters and feel with anything I’m doing,” they told The Guardian. “I really have to feel it in my pubic hairs—they have to vibrate. My underarm hairs definitely tingled when I got the Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery script.”
Michael Jackson tributes have been stirring up controversy lately. Janet Jackson herself faced criticism for posing with someone dressed as her brother at a meet and greet. While many found it disrespectful, Janet might see it differently. She could view it with more appreciation and respect than typical online reactions.