MTV Blames Janet Jackson for Incident (tries to shift the blame)

Reuters ^

[GulliverSwift]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Singer Janet Jackson (news) masterminded the Super Bowl halftime stunt that left her right breast exposed and prompted a federal probe into television indecency, the head of MTV said on Tuesday.

"Janet Jackson engineered it," MTV Chief Executive Tom Freston told Reuters in an interview.

The blame on Jackson comes on a second day of fallout after pop idol Justin Timberlake (news) tore off half of Jackson's black leather bustier while the pair were singing a duet, exposing her right breast at the conclusion of Sunday's Super Bowl halftime show.

Freston, whose company produced the halftime show for CBS, said Timberlake was informed of the stunt just moments before he took the stage with Jackson.

MTV and CBS are both owned by Viacom (NYSE:VIAB - news)(NYSE:VIA - news).

The Super Bowl is the highest-rated U.S. television event, watched by almost 90 million people.

The stunt, which Timberlake said was due to a "wardrobe malfunction," sparked widespread viewer complaints.

Federal Communications Commission (news - web sites) regulators launched an investigation amid calls for the government to take a tougher stance on regulating indecency on television.

"There's now going to be an FCC (news - web sites) investigation into the nipple," Freston told reporters at a news conference.

Jackson took the blame but said on Monday her stunt went further than she intended: "The decision to have a costume reveal at the end of my half-time show performance was made after final rehearsals. MTV was completely unaware of it. It was not my intention that it go as far as it did."

FINANCIAL FALLOUT

Freston said neither CBS nor the National Football League has rescinded or demanded a refund of MTV's production fees. But sources familiar with the situation said the incident could possibly cost CBS and the NFL millions of dollars.

The sources told Reuters that Time Warner Inc. (NYSE:TWX - news) unit America Online may now seek a partial refund of the estimated $10 million it paid as a major Super Bowl advertiser and exclusive halftime show sponsor.

"While AOL was the sponsor of the Super Bowl Halftime Show, we did not produce it," the company said in a statement. "Like the NFL, we were surprised and disappointed with certain elements of the show."

The company said the exposure of Jackson's breast means it cannot now broadcast the halftime extravaganza on its web site for 25 million AOL members and visitors.

"In deference to our membership and the fans, AOL and AOL.com will not be presenting the Halftime Show online as originally planned," the company said.

McDonald's Corp. (NYSE:MCD - news), which uses Timberlake as a pitch man, said it found the incident was inappropriate but that it will stand by the singer.

An NFL spokesman said it is unlikely that MTV will be asked to produce future halftime shows. MTV is no stranger to producing shows with shock value, most recently making headlines when it broadcast a performance by Madonna (news - web sites) and Britney Spears (news) ending with the pair kissing.

[GulliverSwift]

"Pay attention. I am about to begin a Wardrobe Malfunction."

[D.P.Roberts]

Seems this incident has exposed more boobs than just Janet's.

[glock rocks]

The blame on Jackson comes on a second day of fallout

Hey, I thought it only happened once. On Sunday...

[thesummerwind]

America at it's lowest.

Too damn bad Janet brought the Jackson family name down with this episode!

[cyborg]

Blame Janet Jackson... I SEE JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE RIPPING HER BRA OFF OF HER CHEST. So MTV run like little babies. These people knew exactly what they were doing.

[thesummerwind]

Seems this incident has exposed more boobs than just Janet's

'Justin The Ripper' has always been a no-talent boob.

[boomop1]

Liberal back stabbers.

[GulliverSwift]

"Me too, Justin! Rip mine off, too!!"

[Mikey]

This just about says it all.

"I forced myself to watch some of the Super Bowl. I know I'm out of step with most Americans on this, but a long time ago I turned away from it. I stopped watching the event and even being interested in NFL Football. It wasn't so much the games themselves that offended me, but what came with it – the exploitation of viewers, the way it distracts Americans' important things, the ads, the hoopla, the way the entertainment industry used it to promote sex and cultural degradation.

To me, it's all reminiscent of ancient Rome and the Coliseum. That's where the entertainment industry is leading us – back to the "glories" of Rome, the fasces, the cheapening of humanity."

To read the entire article, go to WorldNetDaily

[demnomo]

It wasn't just the exposed boob finale that was offensive--it was the entire decadent, tasteless simulations of lesbian, homosexual and hetero sado/masochistic sex acts masquerading as "entertainment" that horrified anyone with a smidgen of decency...

[WritableSpace]

Of Course! We all new it was entirely the Womens fault. [/sarcasm]

So much for feminism.

[schaketo]

Just in case you would like to contact McDonald’s and let them know how you feel about Justin Timberlake being the face and name of their company and products.

McDonald's Corp
McDonald's Plaza
Oak Brook, IL 60523
Phone: (630) 623-3000
Fax: (630) 623-5700

[Hildy]

This is what I don't like about FR. You can't separate the talent from the person. You may not like his music, but there's no denying he has talent. You don't get to be on top of the musical heap by having NO TALENT. It makes you look silly to say that. He sells millions of albums, sells out concerts, makes good videos...he can sing and he can dance. HE HAS TALENT.

[No Blue States]

"McDonald's Corp. (NYSE:MCD - news), which uses Timberlake as a pitch man, said it found the incident was inappropriate but that it will stand by the singer."

TimberFake should get just as much heat as JJ.
There were in it together.

[TSgt]

So I’m sitting in my Managerial Psychology class last night at the University of Cincinnati when my Professor (Dr. xxx) breaks out into a diatribe about Janet's boobs and how a woman's body is a beautiful thing.

I dared to challenge Dr. xxx about her views and pointed out the context under which the disrobing happened.

I'll probably fail her class now.

[Helms]

Janet Jackson To Drop New Album In March
By Chuck 'Jigsaw' Creekmur, BET.com Staff Writer

Posted January 21, 2004-- The other Jackson, Janet, is about to drop a new album on March 30 according to a label spokesperson. It's going to include collaborations with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Jackson, Missy Elliott, Dallas Austin and others. Advertisement


The album has yet to be titled according to Billboard magazine, but stated that Ms. Jackson would embark on a new tour to support the album.
Janet will also be apart of the Super Bowl XXXVIII on February 1, where P. Diddy, Kid Rock and Nelly will join her. The halftime festivities are produced by MTV and sponsored by AOL. The latest pop foray is the singer's follow-up to 2001's hit All for You.

[EggsAckley]

Yeah, how dare she besmirch the good Jackson family name?! They've worked so HARD through the years building up their clean-cut, all-American image, and the narcissistic Janet destroys it in just one minute. Poor, poor Jackson family; they should have her stoned.............oops, she already does that..............

[thesummerwind]

You don't get to be on top of the musical heap by having NO TALENT.

Wrong....let's not argue about it. You are apparently a clueless youngster.

However, one thing you said that was true was............ 'Justin The Ripper' is in a "HEAP"!

[schaketo]

Cheer up folks. Spring training is just around the corner. Never seen a smut review like a NFL halftime at a Phillies seventh inning stretch.

[LisaMalia]

McDonald's Corp. (NYSE:MCD - news), which uses Timberlake as a pitch man, said it found the incident was inappropriate but that it will stand by the singer

Hey McDonalds, I ran through your drive thru last Saturday. Consider it the last time you'll ever see me there. You make you're choices, I'll make mine.