Janet Jackson Joins Rauw Alejandro Backstage at U.K. Kickoff of His European Tour, Calls Him ‘So Sexy’

Rauw Alejandro kicked off the European leg of his Cosa Nuestra World Tour at London’s iconic O2 Arena on Tuesday (June 17), but it was Janet Jackson’s surprise appearance that captured the internet’s attention.

The legendary pop singer not only attended the concert, but took to her Instagram Story and Facebook to gush about the performance, writing, “Raúl Alejandro, so Sexy!!! I LOVED the show!!!!” The pair also shared a warm backstage moment, with Jackson adjusting Rauw’s tie in a playful gesture that quickly went viral.

The Puerto Rican star has often cited Michael Jackson as one of his biggest inspirations, frequently crediting the King of Pop for shaping his performance style and artistry. In previous interviews, the “Qué Pasaría…” hitmaker has spoken about studying Michael Jackson’s iconic dance moves and electrifying stage presence. When asked which artist, dead or alive, would he have liked to see in concert, he told Billboard in 2020: “I would love to see a Michael Jackson concert. That’s the goal in performance.”

Rauw recently wrapped up a sold-out tour across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, produced by Live Nation, performing 34 shows. This included four consecutive nights at the iconic Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, where he turned the venue into the cinematic world of his 2024 album, Cosa Nuestra.

His fifth studio album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums and Latin Rhythm Albums charts, and reached No. 6 on the Billboard 200.

The artist is expected to perform over a dozen European cities including Amsterdam, Berlin, Vienna, Madrid, Lisbon and Barcelona.