Janet Jackson Says Brothers' Teasing About Weight Led Her To Bang Head Against The Wall
Feb. 8 2011, Published 11:15 a.m. ET
Pop star Janet Jackson told The Today Show's Meredith Vieira Tuesday that teasing from her family members -- including her late brother Michael -- contributed to a self image so poor she'd bang her head up against the wall in frustration.
The 44-year-old Escapade singer said, "I would literally bang my head up against the wall because I didn't feel attractive... There was a lot of pain in my life. But I did. I felt very unattractive.
"I still have issues with it. I don't bang my head up against the wall, but I still have those moments. And I think it'll probably continue but at least I know how to deal with it now. And I'm in a much better space," the Miss You Much singer told Vieira.
Janet said that much of the negative self-esteem she had might have been a result of the teasing she experienced at home from her brothers; she said Michael specifically, would call her names like "Horse, pig, cow and slaughter-hog.
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"It makes you laugh, it really does," Jackson said. "It makes you laugh. I guess some people could say, 'Oh that's, you know, brothers and sisters joking, it's all affection, it's all, you know, it's in a loving way.'
“But not everybody can brush it off, and I was one of those,” she said.
Watch the video on RadarOnline.com
Vieira's full interview with Jackson airs on Dateline Sunday; Janet's new book, True You: A Journey to Finding and Loving Yourself, hits stores February 15.