Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction in 2004’s Super Bowl halftime show is one of the most talked-about televised moments ever. The incident, which is infamous in the media as the Nipplegate controversy, had a shocking moment when Jackson’s bare breast was accidentally exposed to 140 million viewers.
The incident was subjected to innumerable headlines and changed the lives of many. It directly impacted the careers of Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson. While Timberlake’s apologies were accepted and his popularity skyrocketed, Jackson’s career unfortunately went South.
Besides the electrifying games, Super Bowls are also known for their halftime shows with some of the most renowned names in the industry. But when Justin Timberlake made a surprise appearance in 2004’s Super Bowl XXXVIII, it became a nightmarish experience for everyone who was involved in the event.
What happened at 2004’s Super Bowl halftime show?
The 2004 Super Bowl halftime event was disrupted when Justin Timberlake at the end of his single Rock Your Body, tore off a piece of Janet Jackson’s outfit. While Britney Spears’ ex was supposed to expose a red-lace bra by pulling away the bustier, accidentally her bare breast was exposed for a few seconds to 140 million people.
Following the incident, Justin Timberlake took to innumerable interviews and statements to publicly apologize for the scandal. The public backlash was intense and the FCC or Federal Communications Commission received uncountable complaints from the enraged masses. The then-FCC chairman Michael Powell stated to The Washington Post– “Our nation’s children, parents and citizens deserve better.”
Janet Jackson raised several eyebrows when she revealed in her initial apology statement that the act was planned. However, surprisingly, the decision was made at the end minute and without any rehearsal. It was also corroborated by body piercer Byriah Dailey, who stated that Jackson’s stylist, Wayne Scot Lukas, hinted to him that a surprise would be there at the end of the halftime show.
The controversy led to the Rhythm Nation singer being canceled as the presenter of the 46th Grammy Awards. Justin Timberlake and Jackson were invited to the Grammys with the condition that they had to apologize on-air for everything that occurred. While Timberlake agreed to it, Jackson did not. She was subjected to severe punishments as the then-CBS head, Les Moonves, blacklisted her from radio and television stations.
Who was responsible for Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction?
The dark side of the industry was witnessed when it was seen that Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake had very contrasting consequences for their actions. Even though Justin Timberlake won Grammys and went on to gain popularity, Jackson’s next album Damita Jo underperformed badly. The New York Times documentary Malfunction: The Dressing Down of Janet Jackson showed how Jackson could never bounce back from the damage she suffered.
However, both the stars have repeatedly stated that the incident was an accident and nobody could be blamed for it. When Oprah Winfrey asked the Nasty Singer in a 2006 interview if the incident was planned, the latter asserted that the people did not understand how the entire scandal was an accident and nothing was planned.
“What people don’t understand is, he was supposed to take and rip the [leather] piece of that he did, but more came off than what was supposed to.”
In 2021, when Justin Timberlake came under intense backlash after the release of the Framing Britney Spears documentary, he took to his Instagram account to apologize to both Spears and Jackson. He wrote:
“I specifically want to apologize to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson both individually, because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed.”
Later in 2022, when the 57-year-old singer released her documentary titled Janet, many more aspects of the incident came to the public. Janet Jackson once again emphasized the fact that the entire thing was an accident and the fans must stop the blame game. She highlighted that she was good friends with Justin Timberlake and the fans must move on from the accident.
Interestingly, the controversy is more significant in the world of pop culture for being the reason for YouTube’s creation. Jawed Karim failed to watch the event and he along with his friends Steven Chen and Chad Hurley worked on a new platform so that people can never miss out on viral clips and videos.
