Super Bowl 'nip slip' caused broadcasters to make major live sports rule change

11 February 2023 , 16:35

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Janet Jackson suffered embarrassment during her half-time show

The Super Bowl half-time show is always an exciting spectacle, but it quickly turned into a disaster as Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson took to the stage in 2004.

Rihanna will be performing the half-time show this year as the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles, with some already predicting that it could be one of the best yet. Performing at the half-time show is a memorable moment in the career of any artist, but unfortunately for Jackson, it's not one she remembers for the right reasons.

During her performance in 2004, Jackson suffered a major wardrobe malfunction as she danced with Timberlake and cameras quickly cut away to show an aerial view of the stadium. But even in those moments the damage had been done, and it changed sports broadcasting forever.

There is now a mandatory seven-second delay for live broadcasts, ensuring that another malfunction incident can never occur again on such a big stage. 150 million people were tuned in when Jackson took to the stage, before Timberlake came out as a surprise guest.

It was a stunning Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston when the New England Patriots edged the Carolina Panthers 32-29, but it was the half-time show that became the main talking point, not the game itself. Jackson was flying, performing hits such as 'All for You' and 'Rhythm Nation', but it quickly changed when Timberlake joined her on stage.

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Timberlake accidentally revealed Jackson's breast

The pair duetted Timberlake's 'Rock Your Body' and in line with the nature of the song, several suggestive dance moves were displayed by both singers. It was all going well until the final line of the song: "Gonna have you naked by the end of this song."

Ironically, the line was true in this instance, as Timberlake pulled off a part of Jackson's costume in the process. The broadcast quickly cut to a aerial angle as Jackson's figure was revealed for a brief moment, but the clip was replayed for years to come.

Jackson's representative explained the incident, saying: "Justin was supposed to pull away the rubber bustier to reveal a red lace bra. The garment collapsed and her breast was accidentally revealed." An apology was then issued by Jackson, and The Federal Communications Commission eventually fined broadcasters CBS a record $550,000 for the incident.

After years of battling the fine it was later voided in 2011, but it did lead to a severe rule change. There are now mandatory seven-second delays in the event in case a similar incident occurs, something that will ease Rihanna as she takes to the stage.

Joseph McBride