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

[JSteff]

"They finally got what they wanted in a halftime show."

Maybe the guys you frequent with. Everyone I know thought it was a trashy attempt at shock. Not real exciting to see an obviously set up camp move.

That is the ones who saw it. Most went to get burgers and a drink when they came on. I and most I know, did not know about it for just that reason. I did not see it until after the fact on Drudge. Someone at work said it was rather high schoolish.

I agree and not real titalating nor exciting to an adult.

[SerpentDove]

Well, if it's a booby trap, I'd say it's a big flop.

[SendShaqtoIraq]

"- I'm taking Laura Ingraham up on her suggestion. She has given out the addresses of the Superbowl sponsors and suggested writing to let them know how we feel."

Can you post them? Thanks.

[Daphne]

OH PLEASE!

You can't be serious.

it was wrong for it to happen, sure, but it was, maybe, TWO SECONDS.

If we're going to whine that our precious children were exposed to this for TWO SECONDS we've got problems.

With everything kids are exposed to early on in our society now, that was like a children's show.

Making a big deal out of something so tiny like this is a big mistake. We all need to just get over this and move on.

[Abcdefg]

Jam it, Daphne.

[Daphne]

You're right.

A lot of adults were more concerned about their children watching it and more mature.

Like i said, 23-year old college students weren't thinking of that.

[JSteff]

" I'm even more saddened; saddened in the way that both corporate America and mature adults have gravitated towards deviancy."

Jeez I am sick of hearing stuff like that. Most everyone I know saw it for what it was, a trashy attempt to shock... but it didn't.

I am sorry. I guess your opinions and outlooks come from what or who you know.

[Time4Atlas2Shrug]

She has some of the information on her website but only the names of the sponsors, not the sites. I'll look for them tonight. You can find the names of some of them along with the name's and phone numbers of other's you may want to contact on Laura's site:

www.lauraingraham.com

[JSteff]

"Now drop off the edge of the earth."

I bet as far as the NFL goes MTV just did.... maybe even CBS.

[Neenah]

When is the shout of RACISM going to be shouted ??

[Pure Country]

You know, it's called accountability. You have to start somewhere. Their pocketbook seems to be a good place to start. Oh and by the way.

With everything kids are exposed to early on in our society now, that was like a children's show.

That's exactly what I am talking about...who's going to pull the plug on these people and make them responsible...

[Time4Atlas2Shrug]

You are right that 23-year-old college students were not thinking of this, but many of us adults have concerns. Is that the only demographic that is to be considered? 90 million people watched this! Maybe some people's kids are exposed to worse, but I can say that I do not allow my child to view this kind of trash. That is what pay-per-view and various cable channels are for, but not a family event such as this. I am thankful my son does not like football.

Who cares if it is only two seconds - why did it happen? It was to be seen regardless of how long it happened. If I want soft porn I'll pay for it, but I probably wouldn't buy it for my kid. Would you?

[NYCVirago]

When is the shout of RACISM going to be shouted ??

It's already happened at least once -- one of the freepers who is defending this decadence accused me last night of being against Jackson's exposure because I didn't want to see "a black breast." I don't care if her breast is green -- I don't need to see it during the Super Bowl!

[stands2reason]

We girls never get to see anything good....

[Time4Atlas2Shrug]

Tom Brady throwing a pass looked pretty good to me!!:)

[DeSoto]

To all you people who are offended, why don't you turn off the TV and leave it off? That will send them a message, big time. I've done my part. I haven't watched American TV in five years.

I agree wholeheartedly with this. I stopped watching the evening news when Dan Rather was rude and obnoxious with candidate GHW Bush (1988?) and stopped watching network TV shortly thereafter. I haven't turned on CBS, NBC, ABC, or PBS in 15 years. I don't know who the "Stars" are or what show they are on.

In fact I really PO'd the grandfather of a TV Star when I told him that I had never heard of his grandson or the show that he was on. I had to ask someone else what "ER" was, and I still haven't bothered to look at it.

To say that I never watch TV is not quite correct. I do watch about an hour of Home and Garden TV each week. There are a couple of shows that I enjoy. No sex, violence, or perversion on that network.

A couple of weeks ago my son wanted me to sit on the sofa with him and watch a movie. I tried and was so bored that within 15 minutes, I had to grab a magazine and read while "watching".

Just turn off the TV and get a life, the perverts in Hollywood will get the message.

[stands2reason]

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

It's weird how it happens. One day while you're flipping through the Entertainment section of the paper, you happen to glance at the rock/pop "Top Ten" and you find that you recognize not one single act on the list. That's when you know you are officially "old."

[altair]

Unless you're a Nielsen family member, turning the TV off will do less than nothing.

You're wrong twice. I had a Nielsen diary in the '90s and they did not do any followup checking and I did in fact write in TV shows I never watched, but thought deserved higher ratings. But ... silence can be deafening. Advertisers pay to have their ads seen. If TV ads had no effect on sales, they would stop paying.

[LibWhacker]

LOL!!