Paula Varjack on Nine Sixteenths and changing the narrative

Standard Issue Podcast

Standard Issue

Society & Culture

4.7 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 6 March 2026

⏱️ 25 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

A “wardrobe malfunction” during the 2004 Superbowl halftime show caused a huge furore and changed the course of Janet Jackson’s career for decades, while her fellow performer, Justin “Trousersnake” Timberlake thrived. Multidisciplinary artist Paula Varjack’s play, Nine Sixteenths, examines the impact of the infamous “Nipplegate” incident. Jen chats to Paula about the play, the forces of racism, sexism and ageism that conspired to derail Jackson, and the hypocrisy that underlines pop culture. As ever, there’s more available for our £5 and above patreons, and you can become one of those by visiting patreon.com/standardissue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Imagine a breakfast wrap.
0:03.1	You know the one, because there really is only one.
0:07.6	Sausage, egg, cheese, bacon and a potato rusty all wrapped together.
0:13.2	Yep, there it is.
0:15.4	I think my work here is done.
0:18.5	Serve them until 11am.
0:20.1	Standard issue for all women.
0:22.3	Hello, hello, Jen here, rounding off the week, which doesn't happen very often.
0:26.9	I don't know why, but let me embrace it and wish you a happy friday.
0:32.3	As I literally never say.
0:34.0	Anyway, before we get cracking on today's podcast, here's what you can look forward
0:38.4	to next week right here on standard issue. I'll be chatting to journalist and author Pornabelle
0:44.8	about her new book, she wanted more, the rebellious act of aging and the joy of not giving a shit.
0:51.9	In Rated or Dated, we're watching 1996's Lone Star, which Amazon says is one of the most
0:57.5	declaimed movies of the 90s.
0:59.8	We'll see.
1:01.3	Mick and I are on Bush-Telegraph duties next week, and finally, resident film buff Yozra Osman
1:06.5	joins Hannah and Mick to talk about all ever-so-topical, I swear.
1:11.1	But back to today.
1:12.9	A wardrobe malfunction during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show caused a huge furorre
1:19.4	and changed the course of Janet Jackson's career for two decades,
1:24.5	while her co-star, Justin Trousersnake, Timberlake, thrived.
	...

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