Why Janet Jackson Got Banned From The Grammys After The Super Bowl Incident
From Rihanna's comeback to Michael Jackson's show-stopping set, there have been plenty of memorable Super Bowl halftime performances. However, none have been quite as iconic as Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake's act.
Jackson and Timberlake were set to perform at the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show, and while they probably wished it was remembered for being an amazing performance, that certainly wasn't the case. Merely uttering the artists' names is enough to conjure up images of what has been described as the worst wardrobe malfunction in history. At first, everything seemed to be going great, and it was! It wasn't until the final song, "Rock Your Body," that things took a turn. At the end of the song, Timberlake grabbed the leather outfit that Jackson was wearing and ripped it off, laying bare one of her breasts. The network tried to rush to a commercial — but it was too late — as 140 million viewers had already witnessed what had happened.
After the performance, many speculated whether Timberlake intentionally ripped the outfit. However, the musician claimed it was all an accident. Still, both Timberlake and Jackson received backlash for the performance, and it seemed like the "All For You" singer got the brunt of it. And with the Grammys on the heels of the Super Bowl, there were some serious repercussions for Jackson's performance.
Janet Jackson was reportedly uninvited from the Grammys
After Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake's infamous Super Bowl halftime show, the "Rhythm Nation" singer apologized for the incident. As noted by Insider, Jackson released a statement saying, "The decision to have a costume reveal at the end of my halftime show performance was made after final rehearsals...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 went on to apologize a second time. However, both apologies didn't seem like enough for the Recording Academy.
Jackson was reported to be a presenter at the 2004 Grammy Awards until the Super Bowl incident. According to Entertainment Weekly, the Grammy's were still willing to have both Timberlake and Jackson as part of the show if they issued a live apology. While that remained true for Timberlake, it changed for Jackson. The singer was reportedly uninvited from the show, but the Recording Academy says otherwise. A statement from the Academy shared, "Ms. Jackson declined the invitation. Mr. Timberlake accepted."
In the end, Jackson did not attend the award show, but Timberlake did, per Entertainment Weekly. The "Suit & Tie" singer did end up apologizing, as promised, as he accepted his award. He said, "What occurred was unintentional, completely regrettable, and I apologize if you guys are offended." As for Jackson, her relationship with the Recording Academy was tarnished and continues to be.
The Grammys don't know how to apologize to Janet Jackson
It's regrettable how Janet Jackson was mistreated following her 2004 Super Bowl performance with Justin Timberlake. From the NFL to the Federal Communications Commission, many blamed the singer for the mishap. Adding insult to injury, the Grammys disinvited her from their award show altogether. However, as time has passed, more people have come to recognize how unfairly Jackson was scrutinized for her wardrobe malfunction. The Recording Academy even changed its tune as they have been trying to figure out how to apologize to the musician.
According to TMZ, the Grammys were planning to honor the "Rhythm Nation" singer with the Global Impact Award in 2023. Unfortunately, the artist could not make the pre-event, where it would be awarded. Because of this, the Recording Academy thought about giving the award to her during the actual ceremony, but there was one problem: they never apologized for how they treated her after her Super Bowl performance. The outlet reports that both Jackson's team and the Grammys were trying to work out how CBS could make a formal apology. However, the conversation about the apology and award slowly faded as it seemed "too complicated." Jackson didn't end up with the award. Instead, it was given to rapper Lil Wayne. The musician has not attended the ceremony since her Super Bowl mishap in 2004.