Nipplegate and the Effects of Implicit vs. Explicit Sexuality in Pop Music Performance

Abstract

Janet Jackson’s pop career was severely impacted by Justin Timberlake ripping her costume during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show. The exposure of her nipple was deemed vulgar and became the subject of a heated media backlash, while numerous sexually provocative moments of the show that did not include Jackson were seemingly accepted This paper analyze the performance and its aftermath, and explores factors that contributed to the Nipplegate controversy, including race, gender, and the corporate entities that controlled the media reaction.