As the title suggests, A&E and Lifetime’s documentary special “Janet Jackson” (stylized in all caps) gives us an intimate and authentic look at who the singer-songwriter really is. It essentially explores the untold story of Janet’s life through never-before-seen footage as well as exclusive interviews in an effort to help her regain control of her own narrative. So now that she’s opened up about everything from her past relationships to her work experiences, let’s find out more about the man she thought was “the one” for her – Rene Elizondo Jr . – Okay ?
Timeline of Janet Jackson and René Elizondo Jr.’s relationship.
Janet Jackson and then-director/songwriter Rene Elizondo Jr. had first met through a mutual friend in the late 1980s, to feel an immediate spark and follow through. The fact that she had separated from James DeBarge a few years before, knowing that she had to “be free to be with someone who was on drugs and all that” is also part of what drew her to René. . After all, as Janet admitted in the documentary series, she “needed a lift” and her new partner “was funny, [we] just always had fun together. He was very, very charming.
So when Rene proposed in the rain on a beach, the “Rhythm Nation” singer, feeling “it was different” and wanting “it was,” said yes! The couple got married in secret in 1991, which remained unresolved until Rene filed for divorce nine years later. According to reports, they had separated in January 1999, but legal formalities didn’t begin (and end) until the following year. During these 13 years together, Janet and René were not only best friends, but also working collaborators – partners in every sense of the word.
From directing the music videos for a few of Janet’s singles to participating as a songwriter on approximately 37 of her songs, René was heavily involved in the music industry alongside his wife. However, things changed within a year of their divorce, especially as he sued Janet for more than $10 million, claiming she had backed out of an asset-based deal. They reportedly reached a mutually beneficial settlement three years later, and that’s when their active relationship also came to an end. Despite this, it seems that neither Janet nor Rene have any prolonged negativity towards each other.
It should be mentioned that the reasons Janet and Rene chose to keep their union a secret were to protect their privacy and try to have a relatively normal life. “[Lying about our marital status] I didn’t feel well at all,” Janet said. “But I was ready to do anything to protect what we had. Because I feel it’s so difficult in this business, the whole marriage. She also added that they were basically joined at the hip when they were together and they were loving it. “I think maybe once – no, twice – we were away from each other, for at most a week.”
Where is René Elizondo Jr. now?
At 59, René Elizondo Jr. still resides in California, where he continues to work in the entertainment industry as a director and songwriter, but also a photographer and podcast host (“Pretty Messed Up”). He has since moved on with his life to the best of his abilities, as evidenced by the fact that he married his longtime girlfriend Britt Coelho Elizondo in August 2010 and then welcomed a baby girl into their life in October 2011. In other words, with a job he loves and a family he cherishes, Rene seems to be perfectly content with his life these days.
Read more: Where is James Debarge now?
