Unfair? Over A Decade After "Nipplegate," Janet Jackson Fans Upset Justin Timberlake Allowed To Do Superbowl Halftime Show

The scandal from the 2004 Superbowl Halftime Show is making rounds again in the news after it was announced over the weekend via US Magazine that Justin Timberlake is officially in talks to perform at Super Bowl XXXVIII.

Janet Jackson and Timberlake's controversial performance which occurred over 13 years ago (dubbed "nipplegate" by the media) featured Timberlake ripping Jackson's costume to expose her breast in front of millions of viewers. Since then, Janet's career seemed to decline while Timberlake's was catapulted into another stratosphere: while Jackson was banned from the Superbowl, Justin has been invited back again.

According to Rolling Stone, over 200,000 Superbowl viewers complained to the Federal Communications Commission about the "Control" singer, and additionally, the FCC Chairman Michael Powell stated Jackson’s top coming off was a “classless, crass and deplorable stunt.”  The government agency placed a slight delay on live broadcasts, which still holds today.

Many accused Timberlake of throwing Jackson under the bus and playing innocent in the media, with the "Cry Me a River" singer calling the incident a "wardrobe malfunction." 

So, since rumors surfaced that Timberlake could be playing at 2018’s Super Bowl, old feelings were rehashed, and people took to social media to voice their disdain, often bringing up the racial inequality aspect of it all. 

It's yet unclear whether or not Timberlake has been confirmed to headline the Pepsi-sponsored 2018 Superbowl Halftime Show, but if he does, wouldn't it be interesting if he brings Janet on stage to make up for what some say is the desrespectful way he treated her?

Time will tell...stay tuned.