Last night, 72,000 football fans packed into Reliant Stadium and million of TV viewers around the globe were treated to a Super Bowl XXXVIII half time even of a new kind: Janet Jackson's exposed right breast.
During a performance of Justin Timberlake's "Rock Your Body" with Timberlake, the N'Sync frontman reached across her chest and pulled of part of her top, exposing her paiste-covered breast after singing the lyrics, "I'll get you naked by the end of this song."
Within minutes, CBS' switchboards lit up with calls of protest and the network soon joined everyone from Timberlake to producers MTV in releasing statements. The fallout has been splattered across the media, with the major corporations disavowing any previous knowledge of the stunt, Timberlake calling it an accident and Jackson staying silent till late this afternoon.
Timberlake released the following statement: "I am sorry if anyone was offended by the wardrobe malfunction during the halftime performance at the Super Bowl. It was not intentional and is regrettable."
MTV, which produced the event, issued a statement saying, "The tearing of Janet Jackson's costume was unrehearsed, unplanned, completely unintentional and was inconsistent with assurances we had about the content of the performance. MTV regrets this incident occurred and we apologize to anyone who was offended by it."
"CBS deeply regrets the incident that occurred during the Super Bowl halftime show," read the network's statement. "We attended all rehearsals throughout the week and there was no indication that any such thing would happen. The moment did not conform to CBS broadcast standards and we would like to apologize to anyone who was offended."
Federal Communications Commission chief Michael Powell doesn't seem to be buying it, calling it "a classless, crass and deplorable stunt."
"I am outraged at what I saw during the halftime show of the Super Bowl," he continued. "Our nation's children, parents and citizens deserve better."
Powell told the commission to open an investigation that could result in a fine of up to $27,500 or upwards into the millions.
Another entity who ain't buying it is The Drudge Report, who reports that CBS officials not only know about the breast baring ahead of tiem, but planned it. According to their sleuths, "Top CBS executives approved [the] musical skit where Janet Jackson would expose her breast during the MTV-produced Super Bowl half-time concert.... 'The decision to go forward went to the very top of the network,' [said] a well-placed source."
Jackson issued a statement late this afternoon: "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."
