Janet Jackson has apologised to her huge following of gay fans for performing a duet with reggae star Beenie Man.
In a report carried recently in The Gleaner Company-owned British newspaper, The Voice, the pop star insisted that she would never have recorded with Beenie if she knew at the time that he was homophobic.
Jackson, who has deflected speculation about her own sexuality in the past, said: "I don't mind people thinking that I'm gay or calling me gay.
"People are going to believe whatever they want. I love people, regardless of sexual preference."
She recorded Feel It Boy with the Jamaican-born Beenie Man in 2002.
Speaking to an American magazine for gays recently, Jackson said: "If I had known that (he was associated with homophobia), I would not have worked with him. It's shocking to me. We're on the same label, so I should have known.
"But at the same time, I wish someone from the company would have told me, knowing how... I feel about the gay community."
Efforts by THE STAR yesterday to get a comment from Beenie Man proved futile.
This is not the first time that Janet has been at the centre of a gay storm.
She refused to change the lyrics of a love song on her Velvet Rope album in 1998, in which she sings to another woman.
She said: "The record company tried to talk me out of it because it's directed toward a girl. I love the song the way it is and it's reality for a lot of people."
Jackson is currently engaged to top music producer Jermaine Dupri.
Beenie Man has been accused of talking about the killing of gays in at least one of his songs and has been targeted by gay rights group, along with other dancehall artistes such as Elephant Man, Capleton and TOK. As a result, many dancehall concerts have been cancelled on both sides of the Atlantic.
Despite the apology, Jackson recently recorded a song with Beenie's fellow Jamaican dancehall star Elephant Man.
