The 2004 Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show featured Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake, but a split-second "wardrobe malfunction" sparked outrage, a media frenzy, and a cultural reckoning. The incident, viewed by 150 million people, led to a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) investigation, a $550,000 fine, and a re-examination of broadcast standards. However, the fine was later overturned. The event inadvertently fueled the creation of YouTube, as co-founder Jawed Karim was frustrated by the lack of online footage. The scandal highlighted societal hypocrisy, misogynoir, and the power of public outrage. Janet Jackson's career suffered, while Justin Timberlake's was largely unscathed. The incident left a lasting impact on live TV, broadcasting, and the internet, making it a pivotal moment in tech and pop culture history.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.