Dec. 22 (UPI) — Janet Jackson is reportedly spending time with former flame Jermaine Dupri.
People reported Thursday that the 51-year-old singer was spotted getting close to the 45-year-old music producer following her performance Dec. 17 in Atlanta, Ga.
Jackson’s concert at Philips Arena was the final show of her “State of the World” tour. Sources said the star celebrated with Dupri at her after-party at STK restaurant.
“They were in a private area at her exclusive tour wrap party,” an insider told the magazine. “[They] were cuddled up in a private booth holding hands.”
E! News reported Jackson and Dupri, who split in 2009 after seven years of dating, reconnected after the singer called it quits with husband Wissam Al Mana.
“Janet and Jermaine are hooking up. They started as just friends and it has been slowly developing,” a source said. “They haven’t discussed an actual title but are closer than before. Their friendship is deep and their connection is very powerful and real.”
“Jermaine knows Janet better than most men,” the insider explained. “He is understanding and he truly cares and loves her. Janet is shy and holds her emotions inside cause she has been hurt before but has a true love for Jermaine.”
Jackson and Al Mana, who share 11-month-old son Eissa, split in April after five years of marriage. The singer’s brother Randy Jackson later claimed Al Mana was verbally abusive and controlling toward Jackson during her pregnancy.
“There’s a lot of pain. Janet’s been through a lot with her divorce,” Randy said in an interview with People.
“It was quite an abusive situation,” he alleged. “It came on later in the relationship, verbal abuse and being [made to feel like] a prisoner in her own home. No pregnant woman needs to go through being called a [expletive] every day.”
