Janet Apologizes, Says Super Bowl Stunt Went Too Far

MTV.com ^ | 02.02.2004 | Robert Mancini

[yhwhsman]

Janet Apologizes, Says Super Bowl Stunt Went Too Far

One day after Janet Jackson's shocking Super Bowl halftime performance, the singer took responsibility for the breast-baring incident and said she never intended the stunt to go as far as it did.

"The decision to have a costume reveal at the end of my halftime show performance was made after final rehearsals," Jackson said in a statement released Monday (February 2). "MTV was completely unaware of it. It was not my intention that it go as far as it did. I apologize to anyone offended — including the audience, MTV, CBS and the NFL."

Jackson's performance shocked onlookers when Justin Timberlake — who was performing with her — pulled off a piece of Jackson's costume, revealing her right breast.

MTV, which produced the halftime show for CBS, issued an apology shortly after the show, calling the incident "unrehearsed, unplanned, completely unintentional and ... inconsistent with assurances we had about the content of the performance" (see "Janet, Justin, MTV Apologize For Super Bowl Flash").

Timberlake also apologized on Sunday, calling the incident "not intentional and regrettable."

On Sunday, Jackson's reps told MTV News that the singer apologized for the move, but the singer issued no public statement on the incident until Monday.

For more on the weekend festivities, check out MTV Super Bowl Weekend.

—Robert Mancini

[Cathryn Crawford]

You know - how come her breast fell out, and nothing of Justin's fell out? That's practically discrimination. Damn.

[hole_n_one]

If Vegas was taking bets, I would have put $100.00 on Miller's chimp coming out wearing a "nip plate" tonight......

Oh, well. I would have never collected my winnings anyway, for having died of laughter.

[CFC__VRWC]

The NFL should bar CBS from football for 5 years for screwing them around. That would get some attention.

I think they ought to just demand that the network carrying the Super Bowl puts in a ten-second delay, where they can dump anything like this before it gets on the air. Talk radio has used delays and dump buttons for years, to keep out-of-control callers (or hosts) from dropping the f-bomb or other offensive remarks in hearing of the audience. As long as the networks insist on using no-talent, brain-dead little skanks like Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake to "entertain" us, when they have proven time and again that they cannot be trusted to behave themselves in front of a live broadcast audience, a delay should be mandatory.

[Bob J]

It did, the cameraman forgot to hyper zoom.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

The close-up shot of her, um.......ta-ta......clearly shows metal snaps that could only allow the ......ta-ta.......part of the costume to come off.

I'll have to do some more...er...ummm. reasearch into that. Yes. Visual research is in order.

OTH, I did have another thought. How happy is Janet Jackson today that the red lacey underlining that was ripped off by Timberlake, didn't get caught on that hubcap she was wearing on her nipple?

Owwwweee.

[Jack Armstrong]

Justin was supposed to pull away [Jackson's] rubber bustier to reveal a red lace bra," ...
Auh?
Why is Justin (quote) supposed to rip off the clothing of a woman (or man) on stage at a Super Bowl half time event?
Has the boy no sense of dignity at all?
Was the young chap raised by wolves?
Have we all lost so much shame in this nation that the mere idea of tearing a womans clothing off in public during a song in front of 50 million American Children
will go by as normal social behavior? There are reports of incidents across the country today in schools...of boys tearing off the clothing of girls! These "quote Entertainers" MUST be held responsible!
After all we are not aloud to yell FIRE in a crowded theater. Oh what a damn shame Janet's father must be totally humiliated. OR He SHOULD BE!
I turned the channel to another program earlier in the debacle when I came to my senses! We can expect more vile garbage from these superbowl fiascos on the future.

[Nick Danger]

[Tagliabue] had to know who was producing and who was performing, though; what did he expect?

I'll bet he expected a professionally-run halftime show.

Until yesterday, I never heard of Justin Timberlake, and I'll bet Paul Tagliabue hadn't either. I knew there was such a thing as Janet Jackson, but I've never seen her perform, and if I've ever heard one of her songs, I don't remember it.

This is what it's like to be an old fart. I don't watch MTV. I don't have the slightest idea what goes on there. I wouldn't know a Dixie Chick from a Spice Girl.

The NFL negotiated with CBS for a halftime show. CBS runs a broadcast network. They ought to know how to put together a half-hour variety act, suitable for broadcast television, without screwing it up to the point that half the country is outraged.

I have no idea what's in the contract language, but if there's a hook for the NFL to sue CBS over this, I'll bet they do it, just so it's real clear that they did not want this, and that they'll sue the next guy too, if it ever happens again.

[DoctorMichael]

"...now all of a sudden..."

LOL

Shhhhhhhh........You can almost hear the cockroaches scuttling around looking for cover.

[EggsAckley]

AND.....no one is talking about the fact that Janet is old enough to be Justin's mother. To me, that's kind of pertinent.

[Arkinsaw]

It is truely shocking to see an bare breast of a woman on national TV, instead of the perfectly fine murder, beating, blood spilling, head chopping, head blowing off, limbs ripping, regular rape and violence that we all see every day on TV.

The only violence my kids have been allowed to watch are "The Patriot" and "Braveheart" because the violence is necessary to tell a moral story. I can filter out material by looking at the ratings.

But this was the Super Bowl. It is inherently rated "G" because it is a football game. Thousands of parents, church groups, busineses, etc. could not use prior judgement because it was sprung on them without any prior warning contrary to network standards.

That makes a big difference which you did not recognize in your statement.

[Arkinsaw]

I think they ought to just demand that the network carrying the Super Bowl puts in a ten-second delay,

Yes, that will be fine...AFTER the 5 year ban.

[Cathryn Crawford]

AND.....no one is talking about the fact that Janet is old enough to be Justin's mother. To me, that's kind of pertinent.

Go Janet!!!

Just trying to live up to my sleazy reputation...

[CFC__VRWC]

Did anyone troll DU after Janet let the puppy out? I'll bet they were ecstatic over there, drooling all over themselves and saying that MTV was like, totally cool and stuff.

[EggsAckley]

Heheheh. I agree.

Love starved older broad seeking some young blood

[CFC__VRWC]

Yes, that will be fine...AFTER the 5 year ban.

That works for me, too.

[Jack Armstrong]

Question is... Will AL FRANKEN "out" them as "lying liars"?


Stewart Smally will revel in this . He was cheering the incident when it happened . Because he dreams of the kind. As a member of the communist party Al franken is liable to do anything that will cause turmoil and disrupt the status quo.

[Twinkie]

But, are they her breasts really? Most of the
"stars" today just go pay several thousand dollars
to have a couple of saline filled plastic bags stuck
on their chests - and the men just fall gahgah over
those two little old plastic bags stuck under a thin
layer of skin.

[EggsAckley]

I think they already HAVE the ten second delay, but just didn't use it.

[dubyagee]

ROTFL.

[eddie willers]

I never seem to recognize the "Guest Host" or "Musical Guest" on SNL anymore.