Dumb Debarge Arithmetic

Ok... by now I am sure that you have all heard that supposedly Janet Jackson and James Debarge had a child during their marriage that is now 18 years old and raised by the eldest Jackson child, Rebbie. Young Debarge, James' younger brother put it on blast on NYC's hot 97.

Janet is the QUEEN of SECRETS. She managed to keep her marriage a secret for nearly a decade. She has been able to keep the truth behind the boob exposing stunt a secret. (Come on... who really bought that? Bra's dont just rip away like that. Ask any hetero man or lesbian woman.) So, if this rumor were true, I would not be surprised.

My first instinct was to dismiss it. But then I started thinking. Do the math. Janet is now 39. The supposed love child is 18. So Janet would have to be 21. At 21, when Janet had just put out Control, she was FAT, and wearing all those weight concealing black turtlenecks, jackets and baggy pants. hmmm... Not that I am saying its true. Just saying that it is plausible.

But then... Janet and James were only married for three months in 1984. Subtract 1984 from our current year of 2005, and the love child would have to be 21 not 18 for it to work. Is it realistic to believe that Janet kept getting her groove on with James (a drug addict) for 3 years after a marriage that only lasted for 3 months...?

Which do you believe?

A) That Janet has a secret child raised by Rebbie that was able to escape the cameras for 18 years and could elude cameras even now, and that the Debarge family would allow them to keep a child when they had money and lawyers of their own.  (James Debarge also has  another daugher around the same age who wants to grow up to be a singer and lists Janet Jackson as one of her idols.)

B) Or is Young Debarge a lying azz wanna be R&B singer who can't do simple math, that is only trying to drum up some publicity for his new album that no one cares about.

Even despite Janet's LEGENDARY secret keeping abilities... I have to say... I think this is all bullshyt. I can add, and Dumb Young Debarge's Arithmetic just doesn't add up.

For you gossip mongers who still believe... here is a picture of Rebbie with husband Nathaniel and their family.

(Notice the conspicuous absence of any 18 year old Puerto Rican and Black teen-aged girl.)

Chuck this Jackson/Debarge child thing to the urban legend bin. Thanks.

(This whole 'ANY publicity is good publicity' bullshyt is starting to get on my nerves.)

Comments

[Zac]

You know at first I did the math also, but this guy Young DeBarge - who doesn't even have a webpage (that I could find) to support his new R&B record would has a name Renee for the aleged Jackson/DeBarge daughter.

I think it is possible because Janet kept a marriage, which is a matter of public record a secret. That is a big one, bigger than a child to keep secret you know.

Look at Diana Ross, she had a child all in the public that was Berry Gordy's child and didn't say a thing about it until the child was an adult.

It is not difficult to hide a child.

Look at Strom Thurmond hide that woman for over 50 years. Hehe.

I think Janet does have a child, but I can't decide if it is with James or Rene. Either way it goes, I think in a few years this child is going to come-out. Then Janet will explain it like she did her marriage. She wanted to protect her privacy.

If I was Janet's child I'd be all about ma, (to Janet) deny that shit and send a body guard to f*ck-up dem DeBarge's, better yet cancel their hush money. It is real nice to be rich and NOT famous.

[theqb]

Those Jacksons lie too much. If Janet don't have a 18/ 21 year old child then Michael only had one nose job.

[Clay]

well, i dont trust janet or that wax museum family... i wouldnt be surprised if she still messed around with Debarge after she got a divorce ... you know she is prone to addicts - her ex hubbu Renee was an addict, which we all learned in the Son of a Gun song.

[theqb]

Also: What's up with the Debarge's names: Bunny, El, Chico, and Young. I neva even heard of Young DeBarge!

[Jazzy]

I'm shocked that anyone could think the Jackson family is capable of deceiving the public. Absolutely appalled!!!! (te heee heee heee)

[Miss A]

I dunno.... anything is possible. And who's to say Janet didn't keep letting DeBarge dip in her honey jar after they went their "separate" ways?

Hmmmm... She does keep secrets well!!!

[Nikki]

Those rumors about an alleged child have been floating around for years. And if what Young is saying is untrue, I'm wondering why Janet's camp hasn't sued him for slander?

[DJ DIVA]

but what if Rebie left her out of the family portrait? I'm just kidding...LOL

These Debarges and Jacksons...BLAH..

[tee]

first of all let me say this and let it be known the debarge's are not hispanic,they are black and white their mother is black and father is white,mom is married to a latin get the story correct.

[Perfection]

Two things to say:
1) If the writer of the article listened to the interview personally, and not just read reports or over heard conversations, he/she would have known that Young was asked if the "child was 18." Young answered something to the effect that the girl would be about that age. Everyone harped on it as if he said the girl WAS ACTUALLY 18!! Sometimes being dumb is listening to people without finding out the facts for yourself before you formulate an opinion.

2) The DeBarges are not Puerto Rican!!! So the girl would not be half Puerto Rican and Black! Yet, again....facts!!!

[Derrick]

Ok, Let's all be real..In 1984, Janet Jackson blew up like a PIG. This was 'after' she married James and while she worked on Fame. She got so 'big' that on a show about performing arts, she was always dressed in big shirts, and long overcoats...DANG!! Couldn't y'all tell she was either really really fat or simply pregnant? Back then, it's not like she was famous (pre-Control) and she was off the scene long enough to record an album and, perhaps, have a baby. FYI: Janet and James got divorce around October/November 1985. I'm not saying that I really believe she has a child, but I am saying that it's highly possible. Given the disappointing way that Janet has turned out to be, I could definitely see her hiding this. She's a self-absorbed, lying, sex-freaky, exhibitionist who has been making the same album since 1993. And , she has yet to put her damn clothes back on. Yes, she looks good, but only for her age (because she's had a lot of work done.) Love you Janet..get it right girl before it's gone!

[oski]

THE DEBARGES ARE NOT PUERTO RICAN!!!! THEY ARE BLACK AND FRENCH/CANADIAN- GO ON MAMABEBARGE.COM AND YOU WILL SEE THAT THEY ARE DEFINENTLY HALF BLACK AND SOME OF THEIR KIDS LOOK FULL BLACK- but no i don't belive that bullish

[Cheryl]

I remember the JET magazine with James and Janet on the cover announcing they are with child, this was back in the 80's. When i find that cover at my parents home I'm posting it. What people don't realize just because their marriage only lasted a few exclaimed months they were in a relationship for about 5 years prior to that and it is very possible Janet and James still dipped around after their marriage was anulled, Janet was forced by the almighty Papa Joe to end that marriage, and after reading the DeBarge article featured in Vibe magazine a lot of things are clear on how Janet met James through Bobby DeBarge dating LaToya Jackson and it also shines light on why LaToya treated James like sh*t when he and Janet moved into Havenhurst.

People want to condone the DeBarge family for their drug use and jail stints as if the Jacksons are any better. At least the DeBarge family can admit to their faults while the Jacksons continue to be pathological liars, Jermaine marrying Randy's wife and both have children by her (WTF?), Katherine Jackson on Bev Smith show on BET back in the 90's stating that Michael and LaToya did not have any nose jobs (WTH??) and Michael's continuance to touch little white boys nuts. And as far as Janet goes, yes she may have endured abuse by James DeBarge but dang, Rene Elizonda looks like James and was an addict like James, sh*t she should have just stayed married to James. what was the real reason Janet had to pay Rene all that hush money and Katherine Jackson insisted she just pay him the money and not fight it, what other secrets other than she likes to kiss girls and the maid picking up antibiotics for STDs did he have to keep?? Perhaps the secret about the child? Hmmm

[not saying . anonymous.]

uhmmm excuse me! im Young Debarge's daughter and i am very ashamed that u wud say sumthin like that about my father. Daryll Debarge is a great man. He has tried to break away from his family's habits and make something of himself.

[Paula]

I don't agree with all the comments made about the Debarge family. Everyone has problems and trials in their lives and no one is above another, what happened to that family can easily happen to anyone, famous or not. What dissapointed me was when Jet magazine published the article about Janet and james announcing the marriage and the pregnancy, which I clearly remember reading that article and seeing their pictures in Jet, very soon after they denied the pregnancy and tried to cover it up. It was very suprising to discover that they would think the public/fans are that stupid to buy the coverup story after it was made public.

[Nancy]

If anyone remembers, Janet had just left the TV show "Fame" in the middle of the season in 1985 right before she would've had Renee. Then she disappeared for awhile, next thing you know, she's putting out "Control" in 1986 - and yes, that was all baby weight on here. A year before that on Fame, she was nowhere near that big. YES, Janet & the Jackson family could hide a child. No one knew she was married to Rene for 10 years until they announced the divorce!!! As if that family isn't full of secrets and lies anyways. I totally believe that she has a child and that the Jackson family paid the Debarges to keep quiet.

[PD]

YES Janet has a child with James but she was adopted by Jackie and Enid Jackson not Reba. Enid died a while ago from a brain anuerism.

[not. saying anonymous]

DUMB DEBARGE. HOW DARE YOU. I AM ASHAMED THAT YOU WOULD SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT ABOUT MY FAMILY. YOU ARE ALL JUDGEMENTAL PIGS WHO HAVE NOTHIN BETTER TO DO THAN TO SLANDER PEOPLE. THE DEBARGES ARE MY FAMILY AND THEY HAVE PROVIDED GREAT MUSIC OVER THE YEARS. SO HAS MY FATHER YOUNG DEBARGE. AND ADDICTS?!?!? HOW DARE YOU. THEIR HISTORY IS OF NO IMPORTANCE TO YOU.

[Yonk300]

Everyone has there on theories on this alleged love child of Ms. Jackson and Mr. Debarge, I am no different. I believe that anything is possible, especially dealing with celebrities. So here is my own theory, I believe that James and Janet was truly in love, but due to outside interference, James's drug addiction during that time and just being young, the marriage crumbled, now as for a child being conceived during this time, I believe that is a definite possibility. I believe that because of Janet's family's celebrity status, and having a rocky marriage and all the while trying to making a house hold name for herself, I believe that everyone in a whole believed that a child would have damaged Janet's image as the girl next door, so the Jackson family went full in on damage control. As for James keeping quiet, I just think he really loved Janet and wanted to respect her wishes to keeping the pregnancy a secret, I don't think he was paid off, I think if that was the case at some point he could have said something later, and if it was all about the money then he could have capitalized off of the many offers thrown at him to fess up, yet all this time he has kept silent about the topic of a child between him and Janet and he remains to say only kind things of Janet. I believe that the Debarge family has always had a feeling that something went on, but they weren't 100% sure, and now seek answers and have come to their on conclusions of what may have went down. Janet has been known to keep secrets locked away, such as here nearly 10 year marriage to René, just maybe she learned from her previous experience to hold thins close, so again I say anything is possible. As for whether Rebbie took the baby girl in, maybe, but recently i has been said that the adopted daughter of Janet's brother, Jackie, could be the child of Janet and James. I find this story to be more likely since the young lady in question is of age where she may have been conceived during the time of the Debarge, Jackson union, and has similar features like James and Janet. But this is just my opinion, I like everyone else enjoy a juicy scandal now and then, but for all I know there just might not be a child at all. But as far as belittling the Debarge family or the Jackson family I find it so unnecessary, especially when u don't have all the facts, the writer didn't even feel the need to do back research to find out the the Debarge family is no hispanic, and that they are actually half black and have white, and this information is posted in wikipedia, yet they feel free to disrespect these Families. It's Truly sad. I am a big fan of both the Debarges and The Jacksons, find it distasteful to down playing there talents. Both families are artistic geniuses and sometimes that is covered by painful past, but we only see them as performers and as celebrtity, but could it just be that after the music stops, and the lights dim, their super powers weaken and they become human again, and have to deal with there pain and there own inner demon just like you and I, could it be that celebrities are human beings and hurt just like us. JUST MAYBE...so let's not Judge, instead let's try to understand. I wish them all the best and future success they all deserve, and most importantly I pray for their inner peace.

[MissWings]

At this point, I don't know what would the harm be in revealing this now, because at this point, it shouldn't be damaging to anybody.PR'd the right way it could possibly be an argument settler between the DeBarges and Jackson's (Joe didn't want Janet and James together, that seems factual)Everyone loves a good Romeo and Juliet story, between factions (this case musical faction)Janet and James have moved on, I think the public who still buy Janets music and DeBarge hits and Revival music, ne hits by second gen musicians would open a "child" with open arms at this point. I say, get it ALL out in the open. Vibe Magazine article and TVOne's, "Unsung" started the ball rolling, I think people will respect Janet in the end, everything would be all Love. What's to hide at this point??? It's pointless....She has a step-sister too, nobody talks about Joh'vonne Jackson, Joe is open about her???? cause he knows that at this point....It's all LOVE. Another one to welcome to the fold....unless people still have ISH to hide...then Houston we HAVE a problem!

[MissWings]

At this point, I don't know what would the harm be in revealing this now, because at this point, it shouldn't be damaging to anybody.PR'd the right way it could possibly be an argument settler between the DeBarges and Jackson's (Joe didn't want Janet and James together, that seems factual)Everyone loves a good Romeo and Juliet story, between factions (this case musical faction)Janet and James have moved on, I think the public who still buy Janets music and DeBarge hits and Revival music, ne hits by second gen musicians would open a "child" with open arms at this point. I say, get it ALL out in the open. Vibe Magazine article and TVOne's, "Unsung" started the ball rolling, I think people will respect Janet in the end, everything would be all Love. What's to hide at this point??? It's pointless....She has a step-sister too, nobody talks about Joh'vonne Jackson, Joe is open about her???? cause he knows that at this point....It's all LOVE. Another one to welcome to the fold....unless people still have ISH to hide...then Houston we HAVE a problem!

[Edie]

Rhonda Silberstein, Diana Ross's daughter, didn't find out until she was 13 that she was REALLY Rhonda Berry, Berry Gordy's daughter. I'm sure that child looked at her 2 sisters and their biracial appearance and wondered how she fit in that family.
Had Latoya not said that Janet "had kids" when she was on the outs with her family, I wouldn't have believed this story. However, everything that Latoya said has been true. She even said Janet was married. We found out Janet had been married for 13 yrs to a secret husband. It had nothing to do with being private but all to do with protecting her image being portrayed as a single celebrity woman.
Latoya is now on the mend with her family but has never refuted a word she said.
Reebie has a beautiful family but no Puerto Rican-looking child is in that picture. Now, all of a sudden the MSM is saying that Reebie adopted the girl. Another story had the girl as Jackie and Enid's but was living with Reebie. Which is it?
James's mother said he never talks about it but could be very rich. How do we know he wasn't paid off?
Janet had a career and may not have been ready for motherhood. It's as plain as that.
Loretta Young hid her pregnancy by the married Clark Gable; went away for months then came back and said she had "adopted" a child. The child didn't find out until she was an adult that she was really Clark's & Loretta's child. Celebs do what they need to do and regular families have done the same.

[Edie]

@misswings: I read where their mother Katherine forbids the children from having anything to do with their sister, Joe's love child, Jo'vonne. Those children are loyal to their mother.

@cheryl: I remember Rene was about to spill some secrets. I read where Janet convinced him to remain quiet about the marriage and even his producting credits on her albums. He got smart in the end. He was quickly paid off.

[MICHELLE]

I SAW THE INTERVIEW ON THE OPRAH SHOW AND JANET TALKED ABOUT HOW HER MOTHER FELT ABOUT HAVING A NEW BABY IN THE HOUSE JANET SAID THAT SHE LOVED IT EVEN THOUGH THE BABY CRIED AT NITE.I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY UNTIL THIS DAY SHE SAID THAT SHE HAS NEVER HAD A CHILD! THIS BABY IS JAMES BABY !

[Dee Vela]

The DeBarge's are not Puerto Rico,so maybe you should get your facts straight. Their mother is black and their father is French, DUH.....