Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake.Photo:JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty
JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty
While the show was nonetheless entertaining, it ended in scandal. The two players at the center of the controversy? LegendaryJanet Jacksonand pop singerJustin Timberlake.
Jackson was the headliner that year, and Timberlake was the surprise guest, however, his surprise appearance quickly turned to shock when he infamously ripped off Jackson’s top,exposing her bare breaston live television.
Since the incident, which has since been referred to as “Nipplegate,” fingers have been pointed in an attempt to place blame on who’s responsible for what went down on Feb. 1.
In January 2022, Jackson released atell-all documentaryof her own where she will address the Super Bowl incident herself. TitledJanet, the documentary touched on untold aspects of her personal life and career.
Read on for a look back at Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson’s 2004 Super Bowl halftime show controversy.
December 2003: Janet Jackson is announced to headline the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show
Janet Jackson.Dave J Hogan/Getty
January 28, 2004: Janet Jackson’s choreographer teases “shocking moments”
The article, which was published on Jan. 28, 2004, not only revealed thatJessica Simpson, Diddy, Nelly, and Kid Rock would appear as guest performers, but the dancer also teased that “there are some shocking moments in there too.”
February 1, 2004: Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake’s Super Bowl incident takes place
JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images
When Jackson took the stage, shedazzled viewerswith an electrifying performance as she sang and danced to a rendition of her 2001 hit, “All For You.” After exiting the scene for guests Diddy, Nelly, and Kid Rock to take their turn, she returned to perform “Rhythm Nation.”
As her second song came to an end and the overpopulated stage of backup dancers dispersed, Timberlake emerged to sing “Rock Your Body,” in which he and Jackson were the only two left on stage.
As he delivered the final lyric, Timberlake ripped off a piece of Jackson’s top, baring her breast.
February 2, 2004: Janet Jackson releases initial statements
Jackson laterreleased her own statement, describing the situation as a planned “costume reveal,” in contrast to Timberlake’s statement referring to it as “unintentional.”
“At the end of it, while we were talking, [Lukas] was like, ‘OK, watch the halftime show. There’s going to be a surprise at the end,'” Dailey told the outlet. “I had a pair of them,’' he added. “I still have the other one, believe it or not. They only purchased one. … I was kind of happy to get rid of it.”
February 3, 2004: The Federal Communications Commission launches an investigation
Scott J. Ferrell/Congressional Quarterly/Getty Images
After receiving more than half a million complaints, the FCC held an investigation that probed the entirety of the halftime show performance in an attempt to determine if the act violated the Commission’s indecency standards.
According toTheWashingtonPost, Viacom’s 200 owned and affiliate stations were threatened with a penalty of up to $27,500 if indecency violations were found, plus penalties against CBS, Jackson, Timberlake, and each performer involved.
February 3, 2004: Media places blame
He noted that he was “frustrated at the whole situation,” adding, “I’m frustrated that my character is being questioned and the fact of the matter is, you know, I’ve had a good year, a really good year, especially with my music.”
February 8, 2004: Justin Timberlake wins two Grammy Awards
Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
The 46th annualGrammy Awardswas significant, yet distinct for both Timberlake and Jackson.
Due to CBS’s “serious reservations” regarding Jackson and Timberlake’s attendance at the Grammys, the network placed the decision in the Recording Academy’s hands. Their attendance was contingent upontheir decision to make an on-air apology.
Per a statement from CBS, “Ms. Jackson declined the invitation. Mr. Timberlake accepted.”
During the show, Timberlake nabbed two of the biggest awards of the night, album of the year and best pop vocal album. During one of his acceptance speeches, he publicly apologized, saying, “What occurred was unintentional, completely regrettable, and I apologize if you guys are offended.”
March 22, 2004: Janet Jackson debuts new album
Mark Sullivan/WireImage
In contrast to Timberlake’s career high just a month prior, Jackson faced a career low in the wake of her eighth studio album titledDamita Jo. After working on the project for nearly 18 months, it underperformed, making it one of her lowest-selling albums since 1984.
TheNYTdocumentary,Malfunction, comprehensively details how the entertainment industry distanced itself from Jackson, while simultaneously accelerating the career of Timberlake.
Alamy Stock Photo
In 2004, there was no such thing as a “viral video” or a place to rewatch clips online. The “if you missed it, you missed it,” phrase was ever so real until Chad Hurley, Steven Cehn, and Jawed Karim came up with a solution: YouTube.
September 25, 2006: Janet Jackson opens up to Oprah Winfrey
Aside from Jackson’s personal statement released the day after the Super Bowl, she addressed the performance again during an appearance onThe Oprah Winfrey Showin 2006.
Jackson replied “No,” before further explaining, “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.”
She continued to explain that she regretted making the apology that she did 24 hours after the incident “because it was an accident.”
February 4, 2018: Justin Timberlake headlines the Super Bowl LII halftime show
Christopher Polk/Getty Images
Timberlake returned to the Super Bowl stage in 2018 as the headlining act. Not only did he perform 11 of his songs, in contrast to Jackson’s two, but he subtly made reference to the 2004 incident during his performance of “Rock Your Body.”
February 12, 2021: Justin Timberlake issues his first direct apology to Janet Jackson
Ahead of the 2018 Super Bowl, Apple Music’s Zane Lowe asked Timberlake onBeats 1if he and Jackson “resolved the situation” and “made peace of the whole thing,” to which the singer responded, “Absolutely.”
He added, “I don’t know that a lot of people know that. I mean, I don’t think it’s my job to do that, because you value the relationships that you do have with people.”
It wasn’t until three years later on Feb. 12, 2021, that Timberlake penned hisfirst direct apologyto Jackson, following the release of theNYT’s documentaryFraming Britney Spears.
He wrote his thoughtsin a lengthy Instagram post that read, “I specifically want to apologize to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson both individually, because I care for and respect these women andI know I failed.”
January 1, 2022: Janet Jackson releasesJanetdocumentary trailer
Janet Jackson in Janet.A&E
The two-part documentaryreleased its traileron Jan. 1, teasing clips from her controversial Super Bowl halftime performance. In addition to sharing untold stories from her personal life, she’s set to address the scandal once again.
Janetpremieres Jan. 28 and Jan. 29 on Lifetime and A&E, in honor of the 40th anniversary of her debut album.
January 29, 2022: Janet Jackson says in doc she and Justin Timberlake ‘are friends’ and ‘have moved on’
Jacksonset the record straight on the pair’s friendshipin a message to fans recorded ahead of the release of her two-night Lifetime and A&E documentary event,Janet.
“Honestly, this whole thing was blown way out of proportion. And, of course, it was an accident that should not have happened, but everyone is looking for someone to blame and that’s got to stop,” she said of the incident.
“Justin and I are very good friends, and we will always be very good friends,” Jackson continued. “We spoke just a few days ago. He and I have moved on, and it’s time for everyone else to do the same.”
source: people.com
