Janet Jackson's "Garment Collapse"

It's the old "garment collapsed" excuse from Janet Jackson's camp. Last night, her agent read a statement from Ms. Jackson:

The decision to have a costume reveal at the end of my halftime show performance was made after final rehearsals. 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.

Agent Stephen Huvane added, "Justin was supposed to pull away the bustier to reveal a red lace bra underneath, but the garment collapsed." Aha! We knew Justin Timberlake was not very good with the ladies! Janet, Gothamist doesn't know what to do about you. You're out-ho-ing LaToya and you're even dating Jermaine Dupri. What gives? Are you going to ask Michael to do voodoo on Justin? Or FCC Chariman Michael Powell, who opened the FCC's investigation by saying, "I am outraged at what I saw during the halftime show of the Super Bowl. Like millions of Americans, my family and I gathered around the television for a celebration. Instead, that celebration was tainted by a classless, crass, and deplorable stunt. Our nation's children, parents and citizens deserve better." Yes, deserve better, like farting horses on the beer commercials, 'cause flatulence and animals is classy.

The Times' Alessandra Stanley makes a good point about the NFL's outrage: "But if the N.F.L. was really so shocked and appalled, why didn't it flinch at the Cialis advertisement that promised men 36 hours of relief from impotence, then warned that if they should experience an erection for four hours straight, they should seek 'immediate medical care'?" Slate has a good explanation of FCC's defintion of obscenity.

And can you believe there was a day when it was scandalous that Janet Jackson, as Charlene DuPrey on Diff'rent Strokes, might be deflowered by Todd Bridges' Willis, but them's the brakes, we guess.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in Arts & Entertainment on February 3, 2004 12:25 AM

Comments [rss]

Britney Rhodes

things happens but your the best

Peg

Holy cow... it's just a breast! Get a life!

U-nanimous

I know I'm now a day late with this, but I have to say I enjoy you're version of Michael Powell's quote better than the original:

...my family and I fathered around the television...

Instead of "gathered", change it to "feathered."

5 Dollar a Word Writer

Jermaine Dupree is more of a beard than Liza Minelli was for David Gest!!

L. Hernandez

"...but them's the brakes, we guess." Shocking! Outrageous!! You are now behind the eight ball with this reader. Step away from the spell checker and get thee to a pool hall where one can watch for and listen to the opening move of a game of nine-ball. The BREAK. As in "them's the breaks," "that's a tough break," and for all those idiom-loving advertising geeks out there, "put a little english on that"

jon

The NFL preaching about ethics is like J.Lo preaching about the sanctity of marriage.

doshin

I learned this on another forum, but it's important to remember that it was NOT a pastie, and in fact a nipple shield, which would lend some credibility to the 'wardrobe malfunction' claim.

Ruidh

I was watching the halftime show and I didn't even see the exposure. If I had actually been paying attention, I would have run the TiVo back nad forth over the exposure to make sure I didn't miss anything, but I must have been so bored by the whole game that not even exposed nipples could rouse me from my stupor.

Emma

this morning katie couric asked if we should be amazed at how much attention people are giving this, and all i have to say about that is HELLO, the media is making the big deal, powell is making the big deal, etc. people are just talking in response to the big deal these people are making. it's a vicious circle, i tell you.

Jen

Charlene rocked. I was trying to look for some Good Times era pics, but loved seeing Willis and Arnold's room in this one.

Tim

Was that a Weapon of Mouth Destruction on her nip?

Seriously, though, mistakes were made. It's time to move on. We must learn from the past and try to heal these wounds and grow stronger as a nation as a result. I fully support a constitutional amendment enforcing zero tolerance for breasts.

In the meantime, hooray for boobies!

Ron Mwangaguhunga

I can't believe you guys busted out with Charline DuPree.

joe s

If Michael Powell is "outraged" about seeing Janet Jackson's breast for a second, how must he feel about his father capitulating to the Bush crowd and lying to the UN about WMDs?

Martini Cocoa

it's michael powell's fault. if he hadn't authorized all the media mergers and consolidations maybe mtv (sister company of cbs == both owned by viacom) would not have been producing the half time show.

michael powell's wish to help sumner redstone own the world has come back to bite him in his fatcat butt.

maybe mr. powell should fine himself.

hee hee!

Morgan

Wait... the red bra was supposed to cover? Was this the same piece of fabric that Justin was holding in his hand seemingly attached to the leather breast-piece he'd just ripped from Janet?

Did he rip the fabric clear off? As I seem to recall from my akward adolesent days - bra's are made from some seemingly indistructable fabric that will not just pop off or "collapse" unless designed to do so when tugged on by pop idols.