Janet Jackson Super Bowl Scandal: What To Know About The Backlash & Feud With Justin Timberlake

Janet Jackson - Michael Jackson 2022

Here we break down the unforgettable ‘wardrobe malfunction’ performance from Janet Jackson & Justin Timberlake and the subsequent backlash/cultural reckoning that followed.

In American culture, we’ve had plenty of scandals, but one infamous incident rocked the public consciousness like no other: the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show of February 1, 2004.

Although the show began like any other run-of-the-mill halftime concert, its denouement became [allegedly] unintentionally salacious when Justin Timberlake ripped off a part of Janet Jackson‘s costume to reveal her bare right breast to millions of viewers tuning in to the event. What followed was a frenzy of cultural and political backlash, The Federal Communications Commission serving a $550,000 fine to CBS, and the invention of YouTube by one Jawed Karim who got the idea while feverishly searching for a clip of the incident after missing the show on TV.

In the trailer for her new documentary on Lifetime, simply titled Janet Jackson., a moment shows Randy Jackson, Janet’s brother who is also her manager and co-producer on the film, saying, “Justin and his team have been trying to contact us about you doing the Super Bowl” — then cutting to a contemplative Janet.

Below we take a look at the complete timeline of the uncanny and culturally curious events involving the two performers and reflect back on the halftime show that rocked the world.

Janet Jackson Is Announced To Perform

In December 2003, the NFL announced that Janet was set to headline the 2004 Super Bowl XXXVIII show to be produced by MTV and shown on CBS. According to a 2002 report from Entertainment Weekly, the Poetic Justice actress was originally in talks to perform at the 2002 Super Bowl, but network executives allegedly changed their minds due to the solemnity that permeated the U.S. post-9/11. Execs apparently had a change of heart after attending a U2 concert in the aftermath of the tragedy, causing them to opt for the Irish rock band instead to “set the right tone.”

”There is no bigger spectacle than the Super Bowl,” Janet said in a press statement released around the time of the announcement of her headlining for 2004. ”It’s a unique and exciting experience that I have looked forward to for many years.”

‘Nipplegate’ Ensues

Justin was added as a surprise addition to the halftime show, set to perform a rendition of his hit track “Rock Your Body” with Janet. Toward the end of the performance, when Justin sang the lyrics, “Gonna have you naked by the end of this song,” he ripped off the right side of Janet’s costume to reveal her right breast, which featured a piece a nipple jewelry. Janet looked down at her exposed breast in what appeared to be shock as the show abruptly ended and the cameras cut away.

Following the shock of the incident — which was broadcast to 150 million viewers — network execs scrambled, as Janet and Justin’s teams both professed it to be an accident, hence where the term “wardrobe malfunction” was coined. In Jan. 2018, USA Today spoke with MTV executive Salli Frattini who implied the idea of Janet’s breast being exposed was a concept conceived between Janet and/or Janet’s stylist which was then presented to Justin in Janet’s dressing room before the show.

“There was a meeting right prior to the halftime [show],’’ Frattini stated to the outlet. “The idea was pitched to Justin. Janet’s stylist or whoever else was in the room. [Justin] went along with it and the mistake happened.” Salli also noted their teams were originally playing with the idea of Justin removing her skirt instead during previous rehearsals, but ultimately forwent the stunt. “There wasn’t supposed to be any reveal,” Salli continued. “There should not even have been an action moment or anything ever ripped off her body.’’

Moreover, FX’s The New York Times Presents series released the documentary Malfunction: The Dressing Down of Janet Jackson in Nov. 2021 in which Salli spoke about feeling “betrayed” by the incident. “My instincts told me that there was a private conversation between wardrobe, stylist and artist, where someone thought this would be a good idea. And it backfired.”

Just days before the event, Janet’s choreographer, Gil Duldulao, also promised MTV News that there were “shocking moments” that would take place in the performance — a comment that was later used by conspiracy theorists and disbelievers that the whole thing was plotted out for a publicity stunt. To this day, the publication has an inserted “Editor’s Note” in the text assuring fans the malfunction was indeed an accident.

#janet #jackson #janetjackson #chicago #dance #charlotte #janfam #houston #love #santorini #dancer #atlanta #dancewithjanet #seattle #sotw #venice #madefornow #monaco #dancelife #rome #philadelphia #billboardawards #brisbane #clubjete #montreal #bbmas #georgia #indieartist #wyoming #jtribe #michael #jackson #michaeljackson #chicago #love #charlotte #mj #houston #florida #santorini #music #atlanta #seattle #kingofpop #venice #hurricane #monaco #king #rome #hurricanemichael #philadelphia #unityneverdivision #brisbane #shalachmusicgroup #montreal #miykael #georgia #faithinthefather #wyoming #theregimeofredeemed janet jackson,janet,jackson,janet jackson remastered,janet jackson hd,janet jackson remastered videos,janet jackson music video,michael jackson,janet jackson documentary,janet jackson videos,janet jackson official music video hd,janet jackson michael jackson,janet jackson vevo,janet jackson album,janet jackson control,lifetime janet jackson,janet jackson music videos,janet jackson rhythm nation,janet jackson teaser trailer,michael jackson janet jackson michael jackson,michael jackson songs,michael jackson thriller,michael jackson moonwalk,official michael jackson, michael jackson pyt, michael jackson live,jackson,michael,michael jackson billie jean,michael jackson greatest hits,michael jackson black or white,michael jackson dangerous live,michael jackson dangerous tour,michael jackson bad,michael jackson dangerous album,michael jackson dangerous lyrics,michael jackson 2020,michael jackson dance
source hollywood life