Nipplegate: Janet Jackson's Super Bowl Slip Up with Dylan Adler and Akilah Hughes | 51

The Big Flop

Wondery

Society & Culture, Comedy, Business

4.6 • 884 Ratings

🗓️ 2 September 2024

⏱️ 51 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

It was the nip slip seen round the world. Whether by accident or on purpose, the nation caught a brief glimpse of Janet Jackson’s breast on live television during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show while she was performing with Justin Timberlake. Quickly dubbed "Nipplegate," the incident ignited a firestorm of controversy and debate over broadcast decency standards and media regulation. It led to a flood of complaints to the FCC, significant fines for broadcasters, and a lasting impact on cultural norms and entertainment industry practices in the United States.

Akilah Hughes (Rebel Spirit, Akilah Obviously) and Dylan Adler (Comedy Central) join Misha to expose the truth behind Nipplegate!

Follow The Big Flop on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to The Big Flop early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Wonderie Plus subscribers can listen to the Big Flop early and ad-free.
0:05.3	Join Wonderly Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
0:14.6	Jim Steeg is the party planner for America's biggest national holiday.
0:25.1	No, not July 4th, the Super Bowl.
0:28.5	For 24 years, he's been the NFL's director of special events.
0:35.0	Football, extravaganzas, NFL tours, concerts, charity gals, Jim runs them all.
0:43.6	He's even the mastermind who introduced celebrities into the mix by inviting Diana
0:49.1	Ross to sing the national anthem in 1982. He signed Michael Freak Freaking Jackson to do the halftime show in 93.
0:59.9	And now, Jim's preparing for the grandest halftime spectacle yet, featuring MTV's hottest
1:08.0	artists and Michael's sister, Janet. Miss Jackson, if you're nasty. Here's the thing,
1:15.4	though, the halftime show can't be too sexy. It's 2004, and America is in the middle of a post-9-11
1:25.0	conservative fervor.
1:29.5	But Jim's on, like always.
1:34.6	That's why he's also signing wholesome, pretty boy, Justin Timberlake.
1:38.6	Justin and Janet are going to add that tasteful sort of sexy to the halftime show that'll keep the young fans hooked
1:41.5	and the old fans delightfully unaffended.
1:45.6	Jim's 25th Super Bowl will be flawless, as always.
1:50.4	But he still double-checked his to-do list, you know, sound, lighting, wardrobe.
1:56.3	Gotta make sure nothing malfunctiones.
1:59.6	After all, being unprepared makes him feel a bit, well,
2:04.6	exposed.
2:09.3	The infamous 2004 Super Bowl halftime show, it all ending with a wardrobe malfunction and an FCC
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Wondery, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Wondery and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.