YOU’RE GETTING OLD: 20th Anniversary of Nipplegate Halftime Show
Can you believe it? It’s been 20 years since the infamous Nipplegate halftime show at Super Bowl XXVIII. For those who don’t remember or weren’t even alive back then, let me take you on a trip down memory lane. Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake caused quite a stir during that Super Bowl halftime show. As a high school student, I watched the game in my parents’ basement, and I vividly remember thinking, “Is that a nipple ring?”
What followed was a shameful display of slut-shaming. Timberlake’s “wardrobe malfunction” resulted in Jackson being shamed and blacklisted in the industry, while Timberlake faced no significant consequences. It wasn’t fair, and it wasn’t right. However, Jackson’s career eventually rebounded, and she became a legend in the music industry.
Recently, I watched the halftime show again in HD, and it was like a journey through millennial pop culture. The baggy jerseys, spaghetti straps, and stars turned problematic were all there. But what bothered me the most was how the show began. It featured the HBCU marching band sound, but Texas Southern had to share the stage with the University of Houston. It felt like cultural appropriation at its finest.
As the show continued, we saw Jackson perform a snippet of her hit song “All for You,” followed by Diddy and Nelly taking the stage. Kid Rock also made an appearance, wearing an American flag poncho and fedora. While Jackson faced backlash for an accidental nipple slip, Kid Rock freely shouted about drugs and alcohol in front of a young audience.
Jackson returned to the stage to perform “Rhythm Nation,” and Timberlake joined her for the finale with “Rock Yo’ Body.” We all know what happened next, but watching it in HD gave a different perspective. It was a thrilling 12 minutes filled with music and familiar faces that shaped a generation.
Reflecting on this 20th anniversary, I am grateful to have experienced it live and even more grateful to have gone 20 years without watching it again. However, revisiting it for work reminded me of the joy it brought me. So, I encourage everyone to search for it and enjoy the nostalgia. And let’s remember, America, it’s time to stop being so offended by women’s bodies.
