One day after Janet Jackson’s shocking Super Bowl halftime performance, the singer took responsibility for the breast-baring incident and said she never intended the stunt to go as far as it did.
“The decision to have a costume reveal at the end of my halftime show performance was made after final rehearsals,” Jackson said in a statement released Monday (February 2). “MTV was completely unaware of it. 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’s performance shocked onlookers when Justin Timberlake – who was performing with her – pulled off a piece of Jackson’s costume, revealing her right breast.
MTV, which produced the halftime show for CBS, issued an apology shortly after the show, calling the incident “unrehearsed, unplanned, completely unintentional and… inconsistent with assurances we had about the content of the performance”.
Timberlake also apologized on Sunday, calling the incident “not intentional and regrettable.”
On Sunday, Jackson’s reps told MTV News that the singer apologized for the move, but the singer issued no public statement on the incident until Monday.
MTV released this statement Monday night:
“MTV was as surprised and shocked as anyone last night. Janet Jackson acknowledged that we had no prior knowledge of her plans. We will continue to investigate the circumstances.
Our goal with the Super Bowl Halftime show was to produce an entertaining stage experience with a positive message about empowerment and voting. We are disappointed that this message has been overshadowed by the unfortunate incident.
MTV apologizes again to anyone who was offended.”
