Janet Jackson felt like ‘prisoner,’ husband wanted traditional Muslim wife

Janet Jackson reportedly felt like a "prisoner" in her marriage to Wissam Al Mana.

Sep 21, 2017

Janet Jackson reportedly felt like a “prisoner” in her marriage to Wissam Al Mana.

The newest issue of Us Weekly featured sources close to the Jackson family offering an inside look into Jackson’s marriage to Al Mana, which recently dissolved after five years together.

The feature described Jackson’s desperation for stability after her brother, Michael, died and after she split from Jermaine Dupri.

“He swept in at just the right time,” an insider said of Al Mana. “He bailed her out and whisked her away to the Middle East.”

“Janet lived a very lavish life with him,” the source added. “His money could afford them a lot of privacy, which was what she craved.”

What’s more, Al Mana awakened in Jackson a desire for a family.

“Janet was never very maternal before, but that changed with Wissam,” the insider said. “He really wanted a baby and she was ready. She realized she found the right guy.”

However, over time, Al Mana’s desire for “a traditional wife who stuck with Muslim traditions” began to change things. She started to wear burkas and became isolated.

“Janet felt like a prisoner,” another source recalled.

Finally, after canceling her tour in April 2016 to focus on her pregnancy, “Janet felt like her music was suffering and she resented Wissam,” the insider said.

Jackson finally “put her foot down and said no,” the insider added, saying, “Janet wanted to get her life back.”