Nelly Reflects on Being Angry About Justin Timberlake’s Career Post-Janet Jackson Super Bowl: “She Was Forever Stained…He Went Unscathed”

It’s been over 20 years since the Janet Jackson-led Super Bowl Halftime Show changed the course of TV forever, but the headline-grabbing showing remains a hot topic – particularly for the hurdles the Pop royal had to overcome in the years that followed her breast-baring performance alongside Justin Timberlake.

Proof of that came courtesy of Nelly‘s recent visit to the ‘Drink Champs‘ podcast where he not only reflected on his time showcasing hits during the big game’s prized performance slot, but also laid into Timberlake for “going unscathed” during the seismic backlash Jackson endured.

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Moments after giving Kendrick Lamar a glowing review for his headlining performance at the 2025 Super Bowl, Nelly reminisced on his own halftime show performances (2001 and 2004 respectively).

While looking back on the latter, the rapper (born Cornell Haynes Jr.) had a few choice words for Timberlake’s career avoiding the stalls Jackson faced after he exposed her nipple during the show.

“He went off to have a hell of a career, but Janet’s [career] got stalled and forever stained,” Haynes passionately relayed to host N.O.R.E.

Beyond being a fellow headliner at the 2004 Super Bowl Halftime Show, the GRAMMY-winning rapper says his closeness with Jackson was personal given that she was the girlfriend of his good friend Jermaine Dupri at the time.

Click PLAY on the clip above to hear Nelly’s full statement on the matter.