Justin Timberlake blames 'wardrobe malfunction' for R-rated halftime show

Jackson's brothers believe it was an accident.

01:07 PM CST on Monday, February 2, 2004

From Staff and Wire Reports

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NEW YORK -- CBS and MTV both say they had no idea that their Super Bowl halftime show would wind up with singer Justin Timberlake tearing off part of Janet Jackson’s costume, exposing her breast. Timberlake blamed a “wardrobe malfunction.”

Messages left with Jackson’s record company and her personal publicist were not returned Monday morning.

Two of Jackson's brothers were at the game and they talked with 11 News about the incident.

CBS Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake performed a controversial Super Bowl halftime act that ended with Jackson's breast being bared.

"I kind of felt something was wrong because she was hiding," said Jermaine Jackson.

Jackie Jackson said he doesn't believe his sister intended to expose her breast to an audience of millions. "I was up in the box seats and I heard something was exposed or something like that, but i think it was an accident," he said.

The brothers say Justin Timberlake is a friend and a "great person."

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“CBS deeply regrets the incident,” spokeswoman LeslieAnne Wade said after the network received calls about the Sunday night show.

The two singers were performing a flirtatious duet to end the halftime show, with Timberlake singing, “Rock Your Body,” and the lines he sang at the moment of truth were: “I’m gonna have you naked by the end of this song.”

With that, Timberlake reached across Jackson’s leather gladiator outfit and pulled off the covering to her right breast, which was partially obscured by a sun-shaped, metal nipple decoration.

The network quickly cut away from the shot, and did not mention the exposure on the air.

The Super Bowl halftime show, which also featured P. Diddy, Nelly and Kid Rock, was produced by MTV, CBS’ corporate cousin in Viacom.

“We were extremely disappointed by elements of the MTV-produced halftime show,” Joe Browne, NFL executive vice president, said. “They were totally inconsistent with assurances our office was given about the content of the show.

“It’s unlikely that MTV will produce another Super Bowl halftime.”

MTV issued a contrite statement in which it also apologized, saying the incident was “unrehearsed, unplanned, completely unintentional and was inconsistent with assurances we had about the content of the performance.”

Timberlake said he did not intend to expose Jackson’s breast.

“I am sorry that anyone was offended by the wardrobe malfunction during the halftime performance of the Super Bowl,” Timberlake said in a statement. “It was not intentional and is regrettable.”

Wade said CBS officials attended rehearsals of the halftime show all week, “and there was no indication any such thing would happen. The moment did not conform to CBS’ broadcast standards and we would like to apologize to anyone who was offended.”

In an interview posted on MTV.com in the days before the show, Jackson’s choreographer, Gil Duldulao, talked about the show, saying: “She’s more stylized, she’s more feminine, she’s more a woman as she dances this time around. There are some shocking moments in there too.”

11 News’ Eileen Faxas spoke with rapper Nelly, who also performed in the halftime show. He said he didn't know whether the nudity stunt was planned.

“No, that's why I thought it was hot. It totally took me by surprise."

Nelly was not the only supporter Jackson had Sunday night.

"Houston needs to make an impact on this Super Bowl," said Tom Finch, organizer of the after-game party Janet Jackson was scheduled to attend. "You guys want to be the first Super Bowl to do everything. And you were after the halftime show. It was tremendous."

The Federal Communications Commission is investigating the incident.

In a statement, FCC chief Michael Powell said, “I am outraged at what I saw during the halftime show of the Super Bowl. Like millions of Americans, my family and I gathered around the television for a celebration. Instead, that celebration was tainted by a classless, crass and deplorable stunt. Our nation’s children, parents and citizens deserve better.”

He told the commission to open an investigation, promising it would be “thorough and swift.” Such an investigation could result in a fine of up to $27,500 or—if the FCC applied the sanction to each CBS station—in the millions.