That’s no pastie!
Sports, Television 02/02/2004 |
I’ve been reading various accounts of yesterday’s “accident” during the SuperBowl when Justin Timberlake removed part of Janet Jackson’s top, exposing one of her breasts on live television. Viacom, CBS, and MTV are all madly apologizing, and apparently there is going to be an FCC investigation into the incident.
An outraged Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell on Monday ordered an investigation into the broadcast of the Super Bowl’s halftime entertainment show, during which singer Janet Jackson’s right breast was exposed.
During the break in the National Football League’s championship game, pop singer Justin Timberlake reached for Jackson as they sang a duet and tore open part of her black leather bustier. “That celebration was tainted by a classless, crass and deplorable stunt,” Powell said in a statement. “Our nation’s children, parents and citizens deserve better.”
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p>I’ve got to admit, in some ways, this whole thing has been amusing me to no end.
In the middle of a heavily-publicized violent sports event (maybe not as overtly violent as boxing, but when many players are injured and hospitalized each year, sometimes gravely so, we’re not talking tiddlywinks), in the midst of a halftime show known for excess and pushing the boundaries, the world got a momentary one-or-two second (accidental?) glimpse of a single breast.
One breast. A couple seconds. And it’s instant controversy.
Roughly half the world’s post-pubescent population already has two breasts of their very own, and I’m assuming that unless they ensure that all lights are off every time they get dressed or take a shower, they’ve probably already seen those; and the other half of the population generally spends a fair amount of their waking hours trying to find ways to see those breasts that they don’t have! This isn’t exactly a new thing, folks.
Ah, well — my views aren’t about to change anyone’s mind. Still, I’m constantly frustrated by a culture that glorifies violence and vilifies sexuality (unless it’s being used to sell something). Seems pretty backwards. But that’s just me.
One thing I just noticed this morning, though. When I first saw pictures of the dastardly deed last night, it looked for all the world like Janet was wearing a pastie on the exposed breast — which, when combined with the conveniently detachable breast cup, definitely called into doubt the “accidental” nature of the flash. This morning Drudge Report posted some better-quality images though, and when zoomed in, it’s apparent that it’s not a pastie — but rather a nipple piercing with a silver sun shield around it.
Okay, so maybe it was accidental. I’ve gotta say, though — I do like the piercing and the shield. Apparently Janet’s got some decent taste in body jewelry. Good for her!
Update: Lane posted video footage — that does not look “accidental” to me!
iTunes: “Groove Radio Presents Alternative Mix (full mix)” by Various Artists from the album Groove Radio Presents Alternative Mix (full mix) (1999, 1:13:21).
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5 Responses to “That’s no pastie!”
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Michael Hanscom
jer@nyquil.org
February 2nd, 2004 at 11:02 am
A Big Snit Over a Little Tit
I admit it. I had better things to do than watch the Super Bowl. Like shopping. In fact, I didn’t even know about the Justin & Janet snow until doing my regular blog reading this morning. Of course, footage of
February 2nd, 2004 at 3:11 pm
Yeah, it’s funny to me how many people are completely outraged by a boob, especially since I can see the same thing on National Geographic or the Discovery Channel. And, thanks for the link to the video: it most certainly does NOT look like an accident.
February 2nd, 2004 at 7:27 pm
accidental? Ya right.
Janet needs a boost in her career. Janet and Justin like being “the talk of the town” This is another in a long line of stunts that are for nothing except to get people talking. Just as the Maddona kiss was another boost for her and Britney. Anything to be “page one”! And of course each one has to be bolder and more daring than the last.
A tit on TV….yawn I’m outraged! Its Shocking!…yawn Ya, ya, whatever
Great jewelry piece, no doubt next week we’ll see it on Home Shopping Network as part of the new “Janet Jackson Collection”
What would be really cool is if Janet did this to put herself on page one, just to get brother Michael off page one. Now that’s sisterly love.
February 2nd, 2004 at 9:53 pm
I was thinking along these same lines at work today, actually. I figure it could go either way…
Sibling rivalry: Janet’s been pissy because Michael’s getting all the press (though, I do think that his current situation could be one of the few exceptions to the “no such thing as bad press” rule).
Protection: As you said, Janet figured she’d be able to do something to knock her brother’s problems out of the pages for at least a few days.
February 3rd, 2004 at 9:14 am
On Boobage
Jake over at Lying Media Bastards has some good thoughts on the great Boobery incident that happened during the superbowl….