NFL legend and recently retired quarterback Tom Brady stirred up controversy when he commented on Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction.
He said it was “probably a good thing for the NFL,” which got people talking because Jackson faced serious consequences in her career after that incident.
During the halftime show of Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004, there was a wardrobe malfunction that exposed Jackson’s bre*st on live television.
The wardrobe malfunction caused a big fuss and made people argue about what’s okay to show on TV. It also brought up talks about fairness between genders in the media and whether there are different rules for men and women.
Janet Jackson’s Super Bowl Mishap Which Affected Her Music Career
In 2004, Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake performed at the Super Bowl Halftime Show. During their performance, Timberlake accidentally tore off a part of Jackson’s costume.
This caused Jackson’s bre*st to be exposed to over 140 million viewers, while the two performed Rock Your Body. Even though the songstress tried to cover up, it was already too late.
Some people thought the member of NSYNC might have planned the stunt for attention. For instance, Stylist Wayne Scot Lukas told Page Six that Timberlake “insisted on doing something bigger than their performance. He wanted a reveal.” But the Say Something star called it a “wardrobe malfunction” in his apology.
The Super Bowl halftime N*pplegate incident gave rise to the term “wardrobe malfunction,” now widely used for similar events. This incident negatively impacted Jackson’s career (leading to radio bans and career setbacks), while Timberlake’s career remained largely unaffected.
Tom Brady’s Upsetting Remark on Janet Jackson’s Super Bowl Controversy
Tom Brady talked about the atmosphere at the Super Bowl on a Let’s Go podcast episode. Despite being there and playing for the New England Patriots, he asserted that he didn’t witness Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction. The seven-time Super Bowl MVP winner said:
“We came off the field and that was when we had the wardrobe malfunction with Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson. And they were asking me about that. I couldn’t even understand what they were telling me about. They said, ‘Did you see the halftime show?’ and I said, ‘I didn’t see anything.’ I was thinking about the game.”
It took a while for Brady and his teammates “to figure out exactly what had gone on,” but he thinks it ended up helping the league in the end. The football quarterback continued:
“I think, in the end, it was probably a good thing for the NFL. Because everyone got to talk about it, and it was just more publicity and more publicity for halftime shows.”
People criticized Brady’s opinion because of Jackson’s career struggles post-2004 incident. Even Star Trek alum George Takei, tweeted an article link with a skeptical comment, noting, “He can’t be serious.”
He can't be serious. https://t.co/hCWMIyoNps
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) February 19, 2023
In her documentary Jackson talked about the wardrobe malfunction incident. Jackson claimed to have had a word with Timberlake after the scandal. The Memphis native asked her if he should speak out about it, but JJ decided to handle it alone to spare him from any drama.
Jackson’s documentary premiered in two parts, featuring discussions about her extensive career, personal life, and complex family relationships.
Watch titular documentary of Janet Jackson on Hulu.
