Janet Jackson Blacklisted: NFL Ban Over Super Bowl ‘Nipplegate’ Stunt Still In Effect
Janet Jackson, blacklisted over her NSFW-ish NFL Super Bowl 38 halftime show scandal, due to her infamous nip-slip, is still on the league’s dark side — ten years later.
According to a TMZ report, Janet’s ban is still in effect. The Control singer is still clouded by the controversial Nipplegate breach that took place during one of the most-watched television shows of the year in 2004. Officials reacted strongly and accused the entertainer of orchestrating the entire thing.
A spokesperson for the NFL was contacted by the gossip site recently to determine if any acts for Super Bowl 2015 are blacklisted. Get this: the lone name on the list was Janet — Ms. Jackson, if you’re nasty.
As for potential acts — we have only ruled out Janet Jackson,” said the unnamed official.
Meanwhile, Justin Timberlake, who described the boob-slip as a “wardrobe malfunction,” was given the equivalent of a tongue-lashing, and not much more beyond that. Essentially, the league treated the singer as if he was an innocent performer caught up in Janet Jackson’s tomfoolery.
I am sorry that anyone was offended. It was not intentional and is regrettable,” said Justin in a statement following the outrage.
A writer with Outside The Beltway said CBS executives approved the planned halftime show, but after the public’s outrage, leadership came out strongly against any suggestion it condoned the act.
The decision to go forward went to the very top of the network,” said a well-placed source close to the matter.
If you’re not familiar with the event that led to Janet’s NFL Super Bowl blacklisting, here’s some history of the fiasco.
According to Janet and Justin, they both hatched a plan to add some drama to their halftime show at the end of one of Timberlake’s numbers. Part of the choreography included JT pulling away at Jackson’s leathery top to reveal a bright-red bra. The signal was supposed to be the lyrics, “bet I’ll have you naked by the end of this song.” But when Justin pulled away at Janet’s bustier, it revealed her pierced breast long enough for viewers at home to get a closeup for the ages.
In 2006, Janet Jackson sat down with Oprah Winfrey and spoke somberly about the live malfunction of her wardrobe. During the interview, she expressed her dismay over many things, one to include how she felt Justin “left her hanging,” as O put it. Check out the telling interview below.
Janet Jackson was blacklisted from Super Bowl events soon thereafter, and that moment in her life has helped set the standard — and mystique — over celebrity wardrobe malfunctions.
Since then, many notable names like Britney Spears, Toni Braxton, Lindsey Lohan, Anne Hathaway, Nicki Minaj and many others, have accidentally or deliberately showed off their lady parts. Perhaps, it’s a badge of honor or part of a crafty scheme for cheap publicity. Ironically, none of the aforementioned names were subject to a ban.
CBS was slapped with a half-million dollar penalty for airing the live event and allegedly having knowledge about the stunt beforehand. However, the dark cloud of a being blacklisted is solely owned by Janet Jackson. Is it time the league lifted the ban?
[Image via Hot New Hip Hop]
