CNN
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Many years earlier than soccer followers had been discussing how much Taylor Swift is too much, there was one other singing celebrity some viewers noticed extra of than they needed.
On February 1, 2004, the now-infamous “Nipplegate” incident occurred on the Tremendous Bowl XXXVIII halftime present as Janet Jackson carried out with Justin Timberlake, crescendoing to a fancy dress malfunction/reveal that begot the aforementioned identify.
Since then, Timberlake has bore the brunt of anger from many who blame him for not supporting Jackson within the aftermath, which included her reportedly being cut from the Grammys that year together with different skilled alternatives.
Author and tradition critic Gerrick Kennedy understands the anger, however believes it’s time to maneuver on.
“I believe the outrage in the direction of Justin, at this level, not solely is it unfair, however I really consider that it continues to revictimize Janet,” he instructed CNN. “I believe it actually does this different piece that basically bothers me probably the most, the place it strips two adults from autonomy over a mistake.”
Right here’s a refresher as to what occurred: The pair had been performing Timberlake’s hit “Rock Your Physique,” and on the lyric “Wager I’ll have you ever bare by the tip of this tune,” he was to tear Jackson’s high to disclose a crimson bustier beneath.
As a substitute, the estimated 100 million+ viewers tuned in together with the Tremendous Bowl attendees noticed a flash of Jackson’s naked breast with what seemed to be a nipple piercing. She shortly moved to cowl herself, however the injury was already achieved.
The fallout was instantaneous, and beautiful.
A whole lot of hundreds of complaints flooded into the Federal Communications Fee, CBS (which aired the Tremendous Bowl) was fined and Jackson’s profession suffered.
The pair of pop stars had been accused of staging the entire thing for publicity – one thing each Jackson and Timberlake have denied – and Jackson was initially mocked by everybody from comedians to some followers.
Whereas each artists apologized for the incident, Timberlake was considered as having deserted Jackson after the mishap, after constructing his profession largely by appropriating Black tradition when it suited him along with his R&B sound.
For years #JanetJacksonAppreciationDay trended each Tremendous Bowl Sunday, pushed by her supporters who had been looking for “Justice for Janet.”
When Timberlake was introduced in 2017 because the halftime present headliner for Tremendous Bowl LII, the transfer reignited calls for Timberlake to make it proper.
Journalist Jason Lipshutz tweeted in 2017, “Justin Timberlake formally doing Tremendous Bowl halftime. Dream setlist – “Lovestoned” – 9-minute Janet Jackson apology – “Gone” (w/ *NSYNC)”
Now, twenty years after all of it occurred, each Timberlake and Jackson nonetheless take pleasure in sturdy fan bases, but Timberlake remains to be being held to account provided that current documentaries included reexaminations of his therapy within the early aughts of each Jackson in addition to his ex-girlfriend, Britney Spears.
And as with each Tremendous Bowl, the anniversary of “Nipplegate” has not been forgotten.
One particular person posted on X (formerly Twitter) Wednesday, “20 years in the past, justin timberlake uncovered janet jackson’s breast on the 2004 superbowl halftime present. jackson was punished by viacom by blacklisting her for practically the remainder of the last decade whereas timberlake was left unpunished.”
For his or her half, each Spears and Jackson seem like on good phrases with Timberlake.
Regardless of her followers trolling his new tune “Egocentric” by returning Spears’ 2011 song “Selfish” to the streaming charts, Spears not too long ago posted her admiration of his tune on her verified Instagram account.
As for Jackson, in her 2022 Lifetime documentary, the “If” singer stated she tried to advise Timberlake after the controversy.
“We talked as soon as, and he stated, ‘I don’t know if I ought to come out and make an announcement,’” she stated. “I stated, ‘Hear, I don’t need any drama for you. They’re aiming all of this at me.’ So I simply stated if I had been you, I wouldn’t say something.”
The incident “was blown approach out of proportion,” she stated.
“After all, it was an accident. That ought to not have occurred, however everyone seems to be in search of somebody in charge, and that’s acquired to cease,” Jackson stated within the doc. “Justin and I are excellent buddies, and we’ll at all times be excellent buddies. We spoke only a few days in the past, and he and I’ve moved on, and it’s time for everybody else to do the identical.”
Hasan Ay, who’s a superfan of Jackson’s, agrees along with her.
“It’s not wholesome to maintain that a lot hate for thus lengthy,” stated Ay who final 12 months appeared on an episode of “The Janet Jackson Podcast.” “Justin was in his early 20s when it occurred, what he did was silly however we’ve all been there. His was simply in public. She’s moved (on) and so ought to we.”
Kennedy stated he believes the continued animosity is partially some individuals “attempting to overcompensate for the truth that many people determined to deal with [Jackson] otherwise after that second.”
“I believe that a lot of our revisionist historical past is us making ourselves really feel higher about how we had been then,” he stated. “We do it with R. Kelly, we did it with Britney Spears, clearly we’re doing it with Janet Jackson.”
“I believe a lot of what individuals are doing is that they’re attempting to make themselves really feel higher for his or her jokes, for his or her disgrace, for clowning Janet,” Kennedy added. “All these issues that individuals did culturally for a really very long time.”
CNN has reached out to representatives for Jackson and Timberlake for remark.