Jermaine Dupri stands up for Janet Jackson, resigns Grammy post

<p>Upset over what he considers the unfair treatment of singer and friend Janet Jackson by the group that distributes the Grammy awards, rapper and music producer Jermaine Dupri announced Friday he was resigning as president of the groups Atlanta chapter.</p><p>The National Association of Recording Arts & Sciences has used Jackson as a scapegoat since she bared her breast during a Super Bowl halftime show on Feb. 1, said Dupri, who has been romantically linked with Jackson.</p><p>I didnt want to be a part of something thats not treating people in the right light, Dupri said. I feel like whats going on with Janet is unfair.</p><p>Dupri, 31, said he wasnt sure whether NARAS or CBS was behind the decision to remove Jackson from the Grammy lineup, but he doesnt want to have any part of it. Jackson was supposed to have taken part in a tribute to Luther Vandross, although Vandross is too ill to attend Sundays awards show.</p><p>Im washing my hands of the whole situation, Dupri said.</p><p>Grammy officials didnt immediately return a telephone call for comment.</p><p>Asked if he and Jackson planned to attend the Grammys since their names were still on the official Grammy guest list, he said, As far as I know, no.</p><p>Dupri refused to take many other questions. He did say he had no prior knowledge of the Super Bowl stunt and noted Jackson was doing fine despite the fallout from the performance.</p><p>Shes good, he said. Everyone else is making this bigger than what it is.</p><p>Dupri has produced hits for Jackson, Mariah Carey, TLC and others. In January, he was named a senior vice president of Arista Records, taking with him the So So Def label.</p><p>Jackson, 37, has apologized in both a written and video statement, saying the blame should be hers, not the National Football League, CBS or MTV, which produced the halftime show.</p><p>The incident has prompted the NFL to make changes in its halftime show policies, the networks have implemented time delays on some live events, federal officials are investigating and at least one lawsuit has been filed.</p>