Longtime followers of the annual Super Bowl in America will know the half-time present is arguably simply as necessary because the soccer recreation itself.
Over the a long time, the well-known stage has performed host to music icons starting from Aerosmith to Madonna and although it’s technically unpaid, it is some of the coveted gigs for artists.
The Super Bowl half-time present has a storied historical past and isn’t with out its controversies. The most memorable of which is, after all, Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake’s Super Bowl XXXVIII efficiency.
On February 1, 2004, a wardrobe malfunction occurred on-stage on the annual NFL championship. It might need appeared harmless sufficient, however the notorious second had devastating penalties on Jackson’s career.
Watch the video above
READ MORE: The catastrophic Oscars blunder that unfolded in entrance of thousands and thousands
Jackson was on-stage performing a medley of her hits when fellow pop star Timberlake made a shock look to carry out a duet.
The pair sang Timberlake’s hit Rock Your Body when, on the last line of the tune, the previous NSYNC member pulled off part of Jackson’s costume.
Timberlake was supposed to drag away the bustier to disclose a pink lace bra. Instead, the garment malfunctioned and the singer uncovered Jackson’s breast as an alternative.
The Together Again singer’s proper breast was broadcast to the world, with solely a nipple protect to cowl her modesty. It was proven for lower than one second earlier than CBS reduce the shot.
READ MORE: Brutal divorce textual content that devastated Katy Perry in 2011
Though it was mere milliseconds, Jackson’s ‘partial nudity’ triggered a wave of concern throughout conservative America.
It was aired to an viewers of round 150 million viewers world wide and the Federal Communications Commission obtained greater than half one million complaints in regards to the efficiency.
The public pearl-clutching over Jackson’s breast would almost finish her career.
Following the printed, Jackson’s rep launched an announcement explaining how the unintended nudity occurred.
“Justin was supposed to pull away the rubber bustier to reveal a red lace bra. The garment collapsed and her breast was accidentally revealed,” the assertion learn.
Rolling Stone experiences CBS requested Jackson to problem a public apology. She stated in a video message: “The decision to have a costume reveal at the end of my halftime show performance was made after final rehearsals. MTV was completely unaware of it.
“It was not my intention that it go so far as it did. MTV, CBS, [and] the NFL had no information of this by any means and, sadly, the entire thing went mistaken ultimately. I apologise to anybody offended, together with the viewers, MTV, CBS and the NFL.”
Most controversial Super Bowl half-time show moments
Timberlake also apologised immediately following the performance, revealing he was “sorry if anybody was offended” and described the incident as “not intentional and regrettable”.
In an interview with USA Today, Jackson addressed the incident and said she found it “actually embarrassing”.
The public shaming did not finish there, nonetheless. The incident, later dubbed ‘Nipplegate’ noticed Jackson banned from performing on the Grammys the next week.
She and Timberlake have been scheduled to carry out, however Jackson was reduce from the schedule. Timberlake, nonetheless, was allowed to each attend and carry out on the forty sixth Annual Grammy Awards.
Jackson was resulting from current throughout a tribute to Luther Vandross nonetheless, in response to People, she “was being pressured to bow out gracefully—or face being uninvited”.
At the Grammys, Timberlake won two awards, performed his song Senorita and apologised again for the incident during his acceptance speech.
READ MORE: How Julia Roberts became a real-life ‘runaway bride’ in 1991
“I do know it has been a tough week on everyone,” he said on-stage. “What occurred was unintentional, fully regrettable, and I apologise in case you guys are offended.”
Consequently, Jackson’s music career started to undergo. Her songs and music movies have been blacklisted from MTV and CBS as per the instruction of dad or mum firm Viacom.
As a end result, her album Damito Jo was a industrial flip.
READ MORE: The VMAs efficiency that shattered Miley Cyrus’ good-girl picture
The cultural affect of Jackson and Timberlake’s efficiency was monumental. The inventors of YouTube even credited the incident one of many causes they launched the platform in 2005.
The second additionally triggered a years-long debate and tradition battle about misogyny and the unfair therapy of Jackson. In a 2006 interview with Oprah, the singer addressed how she was blamed for the mishap and never her co-performer.
“All the emphasis was placed on me, not on Justin, and uh…,” Jackson said. “We have been pals. And not that we aren’t now – we’ve not spoken – however I contemplate him a good friend.”
For a long time, neither Timberlake nor Jackson discussed the Super Bowl controversy.
It wasn’t until 2018, during an interview with Zane Lowe, that Timberlake addressed the fallout.
“I stumbled by means of it, to be fairly sincere,” Timberlake explained. “I had my wires crossed. It’s simply one thing you need to look again on and be like: ‘Well OK, you’ll be able to’t change what’s occurred, however you’ll be able to transfer ahead and be taught from it.'”
Coming full-circle, Timberlake even headlined the Super Bowl halftime present in 2018.
But the incident would ultimately come to hang-out Timberlake in 2021 after the #FreeBritney motion garnered worldwide consideration.
Timberlake, who as soon as dated Britney Spears, was compelled to apologise on social media for the abuses confronted by each his ex-girlfriend and Jackson by the media and public.
“I’m deeply sorry for the instances in my life the place my actions contributed to the issue, the place I spoke out of flip, or didn’t converse for what was proper,” he said in a statement.
He continued: “I perceive that I fell quick in these moments and in lots of others and benefited from a system that condones misogyny and racism. I particularly wish to apologise to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson each individually, as a result of I look after and respect these girls and I do know I failed.”
READ MORE: The 10 words that cost Oprah Winfrey $1 million in 1996
And in 2022, Jackson also addressed the 2004 Super Bowl – finally putting the rumours and debate to rest after 18 years.
“Honestly, this entire factor was blown means out of proportion. And, after all, it was an accident that mustn’t have occurred, however everyone seems to be on the lookout for somebody in charge and that’s bought to cease,” she said in her documentary, titled Janet Jackson.
“Justin and I are superb pals, and we’ll at all times be superb pals,” she continued. “We spoke only a few days in the past. He and I’ve moved on, and it is time for everybody else to do the identical.”
Discussion about this post