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

[NYCVirago]

Like I said, unless you're a Nielsen family...and you were! More power to you on your subversiveness with the diary.

[altair]

I miss seeing football, but living inside the blackout zone for Southern California for so long, I hate more the way the NFL handles TV broadcasts.

[stands2reason]

Not to me he isn't. But he is a decent dancer for a white guy, I'll give him that...

[MHGinTN]

What's happening to this once great nation is not funny ... you too, CC. Winking and grinning at degeneracy in public television (where children are exposed to it because there is money to be made and no adult supervision is offered) is why we have slid to this level of sludge. Winking and nodding is part of the problem, not part of the solution and not neutral or hip.

[stands2reason]

35-10 haircut

What's that?

[hole_n_one]

But he is a decent dancer for a white guy, I'll give him that...

No better than Ned.....

[altair]

The worst part of it will be that after five minutes in a group, when the conversation inevitably turns to TV, you will have to sit quietly until it moves on to something else

Whatever. I can live with that. My most interesting friends don't watch TV.

[cocoapuff]

Now there are 3 jackson boobs--2 belong to janet and the other is michael

[cocoapuff]

Now there are 3 jackson boobs--2 belong to janet and the other is michael

[Nick Danger]

Just because you're out of the loop when it comes to pop culture, it doesn't mean the NFL is. The NFL knew exactly what they were getting...

Yes and no. There is probably some 30-ish under-assistant West Coast promo man whose job was to work that end of it with CBS, and that person probably briefed the senior management of what was in the show. Which briefing consisted of some PowerPoint slides with the names of the entertainers, and what their credentials were to be Super Bowl headliners, and very little else.

Did this guy tell Paul Tagliabue in advance, "And at the end, there will be a costume reveal in which Janet Jackson bares her breast"? I don't believe it. My hunch is that the only comments from management concerned the risk that Michael's stink could somehow rub off on his sister, and hence on them. I'll bet Mr. Promo Man was told specifically to get CBS' assurances that nothing like that could possibly happen. Instead they get this. I'll bet Tagliabue was royally pissed. Viacom burned his Super Bowl to sell Jackson's upcoming record. That's not something friends do to each other.

[Revolting cat!]

To be perfectly honest, I'd be less upset if they were bigger!

[Redleg Duke]

Too late, you slut!

[stands2reason]

Don't think I believe this was appropriate, I don't.

[Redleg Duke]

Sure thing, Hitlery!

[stands2reason]

To be perfectly honest, I'd be less upset if they were bigger!

Watch out, cos this is not a laughing matter to some Freepers...

[YaYa123]

What the heck does this mean?

"It was not my intention that it go as far as it did."

Talk about a meaningless apology....a gobbledeegook explanation! Janet's lawyers should have come up with a more convincing statement.

[Revolting cat!]

I just knew you had to be someone into semiotics (or 'semi-idiotics' as one of my profs, a semiotician himself used to call it.) Roland Barthes would have loved this (I think?!)

[not-an-ostrich]

One would think Justin would have acquired some maturity from his relationship with the older woman, Carmen Diaz. However he's still just an immature boy.

[hole_n_one]

Where's Mark Geragos when ya need him?

[hattend]

35-10 WAS the regulation (AFR 35-10, Air Force Grooming Standards)

It's now AFI36-2903 and that just doesn't roll off the tongue like "35-10"