Publications
Turns out Janet Jackson’s infamous wardrobe malfunction at the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show likely wasn’t a malfunction at all.
Stylist Wayne Scot Lukas, who was behind Janet’s stage look, has claimed Justin Timberlake engineered the incident and planned to reveal the Control singer’s breast.
“I wouldn’t call it a wardrobe ‘malfunction’ in a million years,” he says. “It was the most functioning wardrobe in history. As a stylist, it did what it was intended to do.”
The now-40-year-old performer’s goal, Wayne says, was to outdo his ex-girlfriend, Britney Spears.
Justin reportedly wanted to manufacture a moment to overshadow the kiss between Britney and Madonna during the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. He recalls how Justin “insisted on doing something bigger than their performance. He wanted a reveal”.
The original plan, Wayne adds, was for Janet (now 54) to perform wearing a pearl thong, inspired by one Kim Cattrall wore in an episode of Sex and the City.
“Janet was going to be in a Rocha dress, and [Justin] was going to step on the back of her dress to reveal her butt in this pearl G-string,” he says, adding that the decision to change the outfit happened at the last minute.
Of course, in the end he tore off part of her top at the end of their performance, briefly baring her breast.
Wayne claims he’s working on a memoir in which he’ll tell the full story and reveal other dark secrets from the worlds of fashion and show business.
But there won’t be any more juicy reveals about his former employer.
“I’ll never throw her (Janet) under the bus. She’s my friend and is one of the loveliest people I’ve ever worked for. There’s nothing shady about her.”
While the All for You singer bore most of the brunt for Nipplegate, Justin’s career rebounded quickly. His 2002 album, Justified, cruised to the top of the charts and later earned him a Grammy award.
JT recently apologised to both Janet and Britney after the release of The New York Times documentary Framing Britney Spears. The doccie analyses his actions following his relationship with Britney as contributing to her being villainised at the time.
“I specifically want to apologise to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson both individually, because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed,” Justin shared on Instagram in February. “I also feel compelled to respond, in part, because everyone involved deserves better and most importantly, because this is a larger conversation that I wholeheartedly want to be a part of and grow from.”
Not that his ex-girlfriend seems to harbour any ill will towards him.
Britney (39) recently celebrated her younger sister’s birthday by sharing a throwback photo of happier times.
In the picture, all eyes are on a young Jamie Lynn, who appears to be entertaining a small crowd of people, including Britney, Justin and actress Natalie Portman.
“Happy belated birthday to this beautiful soul. I love you so much and damn it I wish I was as smart as you at 30,” Brit gushed in the accompanying caption.
“It’s weird to say that I was basically your momma when you were younger and yes, I’m still older but your soul is and always has been wise !!!!”
Sources: pagesix.com, dailymail.co.uk, independent.co.uk, usmagazine.com
