Justin Timberlake has been in the headlines for quite a while now, mostly because of ex-girlfriend Britney Spears and her recently released controversial memoir. The ‘Cry Me A River‘ singer has been receiving backlash amid his public feud with the songstress. However, Timberlake has seemingly had a knack for getting woven into controversy.
Timberlake is infamous for a Super Bowl scandal that people are still angry about after a decade. His performance in 2004 stands out among all other Superbowl performances in history for the infamous ‘Nipplegate‘ incident. The controversy also involves pop star and Timberlake’s then-girlfriend Janet Jackson, who shared the stage with him during the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show. Here’s what happened and why people are still mad about it.
What Is The 2004 Superbowl ‘Nipplegate’ Scam About?
When Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson were performing on the Superbowl stage on February 1, 2004, little did they know they would be etching their names in history because of a costume malfunction that reverberates to this day. During their performance of Timberlake’s hit ‘Rock Your Body’, a scripted costume reveal went horribly wrong for the two.
As Timberlake sang the lyrics “Bet I’ll have you naked by the end of this song,” he intended to tear off Jackson’s top to reveal a red bustier underneath as a part of the act. With over 100 million people watching at the Super Bowl, Timberlake instead ripped her blouse off giving the audience a fleeting glimpse of her breast, complete with a nipple piercing.
Though the pop star tried to cover it with her hands, the damage was already done. The fallout was swift and extensive. The influx of FCC complaints, CBS fines, caused severe damage to Jackson’s career. She was actively sidelined from the Grammys and other professional opportunities.
While both artists publicly apologized, Timberlake faced accusations of abandoning Jackson after the incident. There were also accusations of the act being a means of public stunt to gain popularity. However, both Jackson and Timberlake denied it being staged.
A decade later, as the Superbowl approaches again, some haters are still mad at Timberlake for the scandal. Writer and culture critic Gerrick Kennedy says the anger is understandable, but it’s time that people should move on.
“I think the outrage towards Justin, at this point, not only is it unfair, but I actually believe that it continues to revictimize Janet,” he told CNN. “I think it really does this other piece that really bothers me the most, where it strips two adults from autonomy over a mistake.”
In case you missed it: “Will You Go Home Crying To Your Mom?”: Britney Spears Disses Justin Timberlake After His Concert Comment About Apology
Why Are People Still Mad At Justin Timberlake For The ‘Nipplegate’ Scam?
Both Timberlake and Jackson enjoy extensive fanbases today even after the scandal, but the rage around the matter has not been washed off completely. It resurfaced when Timberlake was announced in 2017 as the halftime show headliner for Super Bowl LII. In recent years, #JanetJacksonAppreciationDay trended on Super Bowl Sundays, seeking “Justice for Janet.”
On the incident’s 20th anniversary this year, Timberlake’s behavior in the early 2000s is under even more scrutiny in light of recent documentaries covering Jackson and Britney Spears. The ‘Nipplegate’ scam is far from being forgotten. However, Timberlake seems to be on good terms with both Jackson and Spars at this point despite the controversy.
In her 2022 Lifetime documentary, Jackson noted that the two have moved on, and it’s time for everyone else to do the same. Recalling her conversation with Timberlake after the incident, Jackson said, “We talked once, and he said, ‘I don’t know if I should come out and make a statement.'”
“I said, ‘Listen, I don’t want any drama for you. They’re aiming all of this at me.’ So I just said if I were you, I wouldn’t say anything,” she said, adding that the incident “was blown way out of proportion.”
“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,” Jackson said in the documentary. “Justin and I are very good friends, and we will always be very good friends. We spoke just a few days ago, and he and I have moved on, and it’s time for everyone else to do the same.”
It is the shaming that Jackson faced as a black woman after the incident that keeps the demand for justice for her aflame. However, the singer herself has acknowledged that she has put the incident behind her and moved on, and so should the people. Neither of the stars has recently given any comments about the scandal.
You might also like to read:
Are Justin Timberlake And Jessica Biel Splitting Post Britney Spears Memoir Controversy?
