The Child Janet Jackson Was Forced To Give Away | James DeBarge EXPOSES FULL Story | HO

Janet Jackson Responds to Rumor of a Secret Child With James DeBarge -  Business Insider

For decades, the Jackson family has been at the center of some of Hollywood’s most persistent and mysterious rumors. Among the most enduring is the story that Janet Jackson, at the height of her fame in the 1980s, secretly gave birth to a child with her first husband, James DeBarge, and was forced by her family to give the baby away. Despite repeated denials from Janet, the whispers have never truly faded. Now, with new claims and family confessions coming to light, the question remains: Did Janet Jackson really have a secret child—and if so, where is she now?

The DNA Test That Sparked New Questions

The controversy reignited recently when a woman named Tiffany White claimed to be Janet and James’s long-lost daughter. James’s mother, Etterlene DeBarge, even agreed to a DNA test with Tiffany. The result? A 96.7% probability of relatedness—enough for Etterlene to declare, “That’s my granddaughter.” Yet, another DNA test later proved that James was not Tiffany’s father, leaving the mystery unsolved but the speculation stronger than ever.

The Origin of the Rumors

Rumors about a secret child began swirling not long after Janet’s brief marriage to James DeBarge in 1984. The two eloped when Janet was just 18, reportedly as a way for her to escape the strict control of her father, Joe Jackson. The marriage was fraught from the start, with James’s drug abuse and Janet’s struggle to support him. According to Janet, she would find pills hidden in their home and fight to flush them down the toilet. “I was just 18,” Janet recalled, describing the chaos and loneliness of her life as James’s wife.

But alongside the marital drama, another story was brewing: that Janet became pregnant during her marriage and either lost the baby or was forced to give it away. Janet has always denied these claims, but those close to the DeBarge family insist otherwise.

Family and Fans Recall “The Pregnancy”

Several family members and fans claim to have seen evidence of Janet’s pregnancy. Some say Janet appeared visibly pregnant during public appearances, including an infamous moment at the American Music Awards when Tito Jackson allegedly tried to shield her stomach from cameras. Others recall seeing Janet with a “big belly” backstage or at family gatherings.

Baby Bombshell: Investigator Claims He May Have Found Janet Jackson's  Alleged Secret Daughter!

Baby Bombshell: Investigator Claims He May Have Found Janet Jackson’s Alleged Secret Daughter!

James DeBarge himself has never wavered in his belief that he and Janet had a child together. He first went public with his story in a 2012 letter to Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson’s former physician. Since then, he has repeated his claims in interviews, insisting that a child exists and that the Jackson family orchestrated a cover-up to protect Janet’s image and career.

Janet’s Side of the Story

Janet Jackson has addressed the rumors directly, most notably in her 2022 documentary. She insisted that she never had a child during her marriage to James. “How could I keep a child from their father? I could never do that, that’s not right,” Janet said, dismissing the idea that she could have hidden a pregnancy from her famously strict father, Joe Jackson.

According to Janet, the rumors started on the set of the TV show “Fame” in 1984, when she began taking birth control pills that caused her to gain weight. “A lot of kids thought I was pregnant because I had gained weight after starting birth control pills,” she explained. Janet also addressed the wild stories that followed, including claims that she gave a secret baby to her sister Rebbie to raise, or that her niece Brandy was actually her daughter. “First they were saying my niece Brandy was my daughter, then I gave her to Jackie to raise, and then because Rebbie’s daughter looks so much like me, they started saying it was her,” Janet said, highlighting how the rumors took on a life of their own.

The DeBarge Family’s Belief

Janet Jackson Shuts Down Rumors of a Secret Baby with James DeBarge

Despite Janet’s denials, the DeBarge family remains convinced that a child exists. James’s daughter, Kristinia DeBarge, has publicly stated her belief that she has a secret half-sister. “I believe I do have a sister out there,” Kristinia confessed, adding that her father still feels robbed of a relationship with his alleged daughter. James’s sister, Bunny DeBarge, has also claimed to have witnessed Janet’s pregnancy firsthand, saying that Janet was pulled out of the public eye for a period and returned with no visible baby.

Even James’s brother, Daryl DeBarge, and their mother, Etterlene, have spoken out in support of the story. Etterlene’s willingness to take a DNA test with Tiffany White demonstrates how deeply the family believes in the existence of a secret Jackson-DeBarge child. And despite the DNA results ruling out Tiffany, James remains undeterred in his search for the truth.

Was Janet Forced to Give Up Her Child?

Many believe that the Jackson family’s powerful influence and desire to protect Janet’s burgeoning career played a role in any alleged cover-up. Kristinia DeBarge has suggested that the Jacksons may have pressured Janet to give up her baby to avoid scandal and preserve her image as a rising pop star. “If she was pregnant, the only thing I can think of is that they felt she still had a very long career ahead of her and didn’t want anything to hinder that,” Kristinia said.

Others speculate that Janet may have suffered a miscarriage or stillbirth, and that the secrecy and pain surrounding the event have kept her from speaking openly about it. Some even question whether the DeBarge family’s memories are accurate or influenced by years of rumor and heartbreak.

The Legacy of a Rumor

Despite decades of speculation, there is still no definitive proof that Janet Jackson had a secret child with James DeBarge. Janet’s own words and the lack of concrete evidence suggest that the story may be nothing more than a persistent Hollywood myth. Yet, the unwavering belief of the DeBarge family—and the tantalizing hints and “coincidences” over the years—mean that this rumor is unlikely to ever fully disappear.

As long as family members continue to search for answers and fans remain fascinated by the possibility, the question will linger: Did Janet Jackson really have a child she was forced to give away? Or is this simply another example of how celebrity gossip can take on a life of its own?

One thing is certain: the Jackson-DeBarge secret baby story is one of pop culture’s most enduring mysteries. And unless Janet herself or a long-lost daughter comes forward with undeniable proof, the world may never know the full truth.