Jill Scott is setting the record straight after a single comment sparked debate and backlash across social media.
While on a global press run for her upcoming album, To Whom This May Concern, the Neo-soul icon found herself trending last week after an interview clip went viral on TikTok. During a brief exchange with UK content creator cleanheartedkidd, Scott was asked who she considers the “King of Pop.” With a shrug and a quick response, she answered, “Chris Brown.”
Fans rushed to defend Michael Jackson, who has been famously known to hold the “King of Pop” title. He was named as such by Elizabeth Taylor. The moment quickly turned into a full-blown cultural debate, pulling Scott into headlines she clearly hadn’t planned for.
By Saturday (Jan. 17), Scott addressed the backlash head-on via X (formerly Twitter), offering clarity and context. Admitting she was exhausted from jet lag and had been awake since 3 a.m., Scott explained that the question caught her at the wrong moment.
“OH! Baby that bs title is a consensus,” she wrote. “I obviously wasn’t in the mood. If I was asked again… I’d say Prince.”
She went on to deliver glowing praise for the late icon, calling Prince “EVERYTHING — dancer, opulent musician, visionary, divine songwriter, showman,” before urging fans to redirect their energy: “Keep your war. Bigger ones 2 fight.”
The moment arrives as Scott continues to open up about the journey behind her upcoming album, To Whom This May Concern, her first full-length project since 2015’s Woman. The upcoming release has an impressive lineup of features including, Ab-Soul, J.I.D., Tierra Whack, Too $hort, and production heavyweights including DJ Premier, Adam Blackstone, Om’Mas Keith, and Trombone Shorty.