Janet Jackson and Wissam Al Mana tie the knot in secret wedding

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Janet Jackson has married her boyfriend Wissam Al Mana. The couple told Entertainment Tonight in a surprise statement;

Last year we were married in a quiet, private, and beautiful ceremony. Our wedding gifts to one another were contributions to our respective favourite children’s charities. We would appreciate that our privacy is respected and that we are allowed this time for celebration and joy. The rumours regarding an extravagant wedding are simply not true.

Wissam, who is also the managing director of Al Mana Retail, which represents A/X Armani Exchange, spoke to Harper’s Bazaar in November 2010 and said;

I’m fortunate enough to be dating my dream woman. I’m getting older and I feel more settled. ‘We have a deep bond, a deep connection.’

The news comes as the couple were spotted at the Giorgio Armani show on Monday during Milan Fashion Week. Newlywed Janet, 46, could not have looked happier. Flashing a grin, she and her billionaire businessman husband, 37, wrapped their hands around each others’ waists as they posed for photographers. She did not have a wedding ring on her finger, and shyly hid her hand in her pocket.

Wissam didn’t reciprocate the smiling, but it was apparent their affection was mutual when he pulled his wife in his arms as she tried to walk away. The two even coordinated their outfits, both dressed from head-to-toe in black. But Janet wore an embellished peplum jacket to show some style in honor of the prestigious event.

The two have kept their relationship low key, and have previously ignored reports that they were set to wed. The wedding announcement comes after it was claimed they would wed in a $20 million ceremony, after spending $3 million to fly in 500 wedding guests to Doha, Qatar, from all over the world. Wissam was also said to be planning to give all attendees a $10,000 Rolex watch each as a thank you for attending.

A source said: ‘Wissam is going to splash big when he marries Janet. It’s going to be the wedding of the century.’ The ‘I Get So Lonely’ singer was previously married to song artist James DeBarge and director Rene Elizonda Jr. She also dated music producer Jermaine Dupri for seven years, but hopefully she has finally found her perfect mate.