Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake Spice Up Superbowl Halftime Show

Posted on February 1, 2004

MTV promised a "shocking surprise" the halftime show of Super Bowl XXXVIII, which it produced. CBS wanted MTV to produce the show, thereby ensuring that the younger audience would stick around, instead of heading off to MTV's rival show, as has happened in years past.

Timberlake and Jackson were doing a great job with "Rock Your Body." But right after he sang the lyrics "Gonna have you naked by the end of this song," Justin leaned over and ripped off the top of Ms. Jackson's costume, thereby exposing her right breast to around -- oh, say -- 60 million people around the world. A silver tassle was covering her right nipple, preventing total exposure. But right afterward, Ms. Jackson covered herself with her hands and shot a look towards Timberlake that could have melted metal. The censors freaked and pulled the plug. Outraged viewers bombarded CBS with complaints.

Now I'm sure we'll get quotes from Ms. Jackson and Mr. Timberlake tomorrow, but in the meantime here's what I think happened: it was a goof. Ms. Jackson was wearing a tight black corset with a bright red bra peeking through. I think he was supposed to pull off the black material all the way across the chest, exposing the bright red peek-a-boo bra. He used too much force in an Incredible Hulk-like moment and ended up with both the corset and the red bra...of only one breast. Voila! A bare breast, an outraged viewership and an embarassed CBS. It had to be a mistake -- both are seasoned perfomers. Pulling the material off only one breast just looked .....odd. Not balanced, not artistic at all.

That's my theory.