When Justin Timberlake was announced as the headliner for the 2018 Super Bowl Halftime Show last year, many were enraged. And for much of that mass, the only means of quelling their fire of fury was if Janet Jackson would be invited to join him.
For, as etched in history, Jackson and Timberlake infamously experienced the 2004 wardrobe malfunction seen around the world when the former NYSNC’er ripped off more than planned from the diva’s outfit – revealing her breast to viewers.
The moment lasted for a fraction of a second, but was enough to cause dismal damage to Jackson’s career. Indeed, just this week, it was revealed in a shocking exposé that ousted CBS president Les Moonves (now on the hook for a multitude of sexual abuse allegations) launched a blacklist of all things Jackson across CBS owned properties. Why? Because he allegedly felt she didn’t sufficiently apologize to him in the grovelling manner Timberlake did – despite the entire episode being an accident.
Amidst the anger surrounding Timberlake being invited to perform all these years later, there was growing hope that Janet would make an appearance. Perhaps as a means of re-writing history once and for all.
As history would have it, the 52-year-old did not take to the stage with JT – whose performance was unanimously panned.
Did she ever plan to? While doing the promo rounds for new single ‘Made For Now,’ one interviewer boldly quizzed Jackson on the matter.
Her response, which you can check out below, was all sorts of interesting…
Host Ellen K asked the Pop queen:
We wanted to know, was there ever a chance of – we’ve read so much press – that you were gonna appear at the Super Bowl Halftime with Justin Timberlake? Was that all just fake and made up – or was there ever a conversation?
To which Janet coyly replied:
“…I’ll just say this…there was a conversation”
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First thing’s first, kudos to Ellen K for going there? For yours truly, I have never understood some host’s preoccupation with pointless questions about favorite colors and candy-floss when there is real tea to be uncovered.
As for Janet’s answer, it immediately makes for more questions. Conversations with…who? Justin? The NFL? So many questions!
In any case, can the stars please align and get us that return performance?! She’s more than deserving of the platform all by herself.