The nip slip seen around the world!
A new documentary is detailing the infamous “wardrobe malfunction” at the 2004 Super Bowl, that many argue derailed Janet Jackson’s pop career. A top producer of the halftime show is blaming Jackson and Justin Timberlake for the mishap.
Former MTV senior vice president Salli Frattini says in Malfunction: The Dressing Down of Janet Jackson, she “felt betrayed” by the two performers after Timberlake ripped away Jackson’s clothing exposing her breast on live TV.
“I was a wreck, personally, and I pretty much just lost it. I was in tears. People were crying. It was really upsetting. It’s very emotional. I felt betrayed,” she said, noting she believes the two planned the stunt. “My instincts told me that there was a private conversation between wardrobe, stylist and artist where someone thought this would be a good idea, and it backfired,” Frattini added.
The producer alleged that during rehearsals for the show, the two superstars didn’t reveal any stunt or allude to the “Nasty” singer’s top being ripped off. She claimed Jackson’s stylist, Wayne Scot Lukas, made the last-minute change to Jackson’s wardrobe without seeking approval.
“We had no knowledge at all of what might have been happening between Janet and her team,” she said, explaining after the performance the Poetic Justice actress fled the stadium, therefore she couldn’t confront her about what happened.
“[Janet] never said anything to us. Here we are trying to ask the person that this has happened to… and she was gone,” Frattini recalled. “Then we sought out Justin. We pulled him aside one-to-one. ‘Justin, what just happened?’ He’s like, ‘That was never meant to happen. I was told you guys knew.’ We didn’t. He was very apologetic. He manned up.”
Earlier this year after the controversial release ofFraming Britney Spears, Timberlake, 40, issued an apology to both his ex, Britney Spears and Jackson, 55, for the way they were treated by the media.
"I am deeply sorry for the times in my life where my actions contributed to the problem, where I spoke out of turn, or did not speak up for what was right. I understand that I fell short in these moments and in many others and benefited from a system that condones misogyny and racism," the “Cry Me a River” crooner wrote via Instagram on February, 12.
"I specifically want to apologize to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson both individually, because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed,” he added.
The New York Times Presents Malfunction: The Dressing Down of Janet Jackson premieres Friday at 10 p.m. ET on FX and Hulu.
