Janet Jackson Opens Up About Coping with the Loss of Her Brother Michael Jackson 15 Years After His Death in Heartfelt BBC Interview

In a recent BBC interview, Janet Jackson opened up about how she continues to cope with the loss of her brother, Michael Jackson, who passed away 15 years ago in June 2009.

Now 58, Janet shared her memories and emotions surrounding their iconic 1995 collaboration, “Scream,” which marked Michael’s major comeback after the tumultuous 1993 allegations that had a profound effect on his career and personal life.

Janet, who is currently on her Together Again tour, revealed that performing “Scream” with video footage of Michael has become an emotional nightly ritual.

“Listening to him every night, seeing him, remembering us—it’s incredibly moving,” she explained.

Reflecting on the creation of the song, she reminisced about writing it with Michael in his New York apartment. “It takes me back to that whole journey, hearing him sing it and recalling what he was going through as he tried to rebuild his reputation,” Janet said.

“As his little sister, I was always there to support him.”

The Challenges of Collaboration

During the production of the “Scream” music video, Janet described the experience as challenging.

“Michael and I had to work separately—he’d shoot at night, and I’d shoot during the day.

His record company even blocked off his set to keep us apart,” Janet recalled.

She felt that the industry was trying to pit them against each other, which hurt her deeply as she felt she was there to support him, not compete with him. “I wanted our collaboration to feel like old times, but it didn’t,” she admitted.

Overcoming Industry Obstacles

In addition to discussing her brother, Janet touched on the sexism she faced throughout her career. Despite the success of her albums like “Control,” “Rhythm Nation 1814,” and “The Velvet Rope,” she encountered resistance because of her gender. “I was often told, ‘You’re a girl. Girls don’t do that,’” Janet recounted.

“I always questioned, ‘Why not? What’s wrong with trying?’”

Michael Jackson, who died on June 25, 2009, from a cardiac arrest caused by an overdose of the anesthetic Propofol, continues to be remembered and celebrated.

A biopic about his life, titled *Michael*, is currently in the works, starring his nephew, Jaafar Jackson.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn