American actress Skai Jackson has apologized for remarks she made about Kenya, saying her comments reflected what she experienced during a visit to a small village and were never intended to describe the country as a whole.
In a video posted on social media on Sunday, July 19, 2026, Jackson said she regretted the way her earlier comments were received and stressed that she meant no disrespect to Kenyans.
What Jackson Said in Her Original Comments
In the viral clip, Jackson said she visited Kenya and claimed that mirrors were expensive. She also said that many of the children she met had never seen their own reflections until they looked at her phone.
Jackson said she made the observations in 2018 when she spent time in a small village where teachers and children shared their experiences with her. She later realised that her words were interpreted as a general statement about Kenya.
In her earlier comments, she said, “When I went to Kenya, I realised that mirrors are very expensive, so a lot of people don’t know what they look like. But they aren’t insecure about themselves. A lot of the children had never seen their own reflections, so when they saw themselves on my phone, they were very excited and happy.”
Her Apology
Addressing the controversy, Jackson said she genuinely enjoyed her trip and hoped people would understand the context of her earlier remarks.
“I wanted to apologise for my conversation when I was talking about my trip to Kenya. I did not mean any disrespect by it. I went back in 2018, and I did go to a very tiny village,” she said.
Jackson added that the information she shared came from conversations with teachers and children during the visit.
“I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful. I really, really enjoyed my time in Kenya and I truly loved my experience, and I was not being funny,” she said.
Jackson also asked Kenyans to forgive her, saying she would never intentionally make comments that could offend people.
“I just wanted to apologise. I hope you guys forgive me. I would never be disrespectful or just say anything that’s crazy because I’m not that type of person,” she said.
