Scroll To Top
Women

Forget the Super Bowl, It's Janet Jackson Appreciation Day

Janet

Jackson was branded with a scarlet letter in 2004, while her Super Bowl co-performer walked away unscathed. Time for #JanetJacksonAppreciationDay.

Nbroverman

Support The Advocate
LGBTQ+ stories are more important than ever. Join us in fighting for our future. Support our journalism.

There aren't many clearer examples of the different standards for women and people of color than the treatment Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake received after their performance at the 2004 Super Bowl.

After a "wardrobe malfunction" briefly exposed Jackson's right breast to TV viewers (the horror!), Jackson was forced to apologize profusely and banned from that year's Grammy Awards -- her music and videos were soon expunged from mainstream radio and television. Meanwhile, Timberlake walked away without a bruise, even though he was the one that actually ripped Jackson's dress during the infamous performance. Not only was Timberlake never punished in the way Jackson was, he was even invited back to perform at this year's Super Bowl in Minneapolis.

In light of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, society's differing treatments of women and minorities are finally getting the attention they deserve. As Timberlake prepares for his performance, social media has been clearly on the side of Jackson (especially since news leaked that Timberlake planned to perform with a hologram of Prince, a performer who hated such tacky spectacles).

The hashtag #JanetJacksonAppreciationDay is now trending, with love for the musical icon and LGBT rights advocate.

Recommended Stories for You

Nbroverman
The Advocates with Sonia BaghdadyOut / Advocate Magazine - Alan Cumming and Jake Shears

From our Sponsors

Most Popular

Latest Stories