Janet Jackson’s Super Bowl designer tells his side of ‘wardrobe malfunction’ — and reveals shocking change made two days before game
What went down as an unforgettable Super Bowl Halftime Show mishap, may have actually been part of the show.
Janet Jackson’s longtime fashion designer, Wayne Scot Lukas, told TMZ Sports that the singer’s infamous “wardrobe malfunction” is not at all what fans believe it to be.
The designer said deeming the pop culture moment a “wardrobe malfunction” was false because Jackson’s outfit was designed to reveal her breast due to a change that was made when it was decided the performance alongside Justin Timberlake needed more spice at the 2004 Super Bowl.
“He [Timberlake] coined the term wardrobe malfunction, which blamed it on me,” Lukas told the outlet. “So, you have to understand my mother’s bible study group was watching the show and they’re all excited to see Wayne’s big project and then Justin goes ‘It’s just a little wardrobe malfunction. We want to give you something to talk about.’”
Lukas added the initial plan was for Jackson to show her butt to the cameras and audience, showing TMZ the G-string she was set to wear for the moment.
It was changed two days before the show.
“Brittany [Spears], Madonna and Christina Aguilera kissed in front of Justin on MTV. So, Janet’s cheorographer Gill said ‘We have to do something bigger.’ That’s how this became that,” Lukas said.
It was also planned that the cameras would cut away and the screen would go black, but none of that occurred.
During the performance of “Rock Your Body”, Timberlake pulled off a portion of Jackson’s bustier, exposing her right breast to the world.
“He never kind of made up with any of us,” Lukas added. “We all lost a lot of work. I had morals clauses in my contracts, I was losing jobs. I just had to stay quiet and supported my friend Janet, and I did.”
Lukas called it the “most functioning wardrobe in history” and placed the blame of its execution on the producers, leaving “Janet out hanging.”
The 61-year-old was speaking to TMZ regarding Timberlake’s upcoming documentary series set to release on Apple TV in December, which he stated he was not asked to contribute to despite being at the center of the big pop culture moment at the 2004 Super Bowl.
“No one asked me to speak about it and I’m the only one who really knows what happened because I designed the oufit. I made the outfit and I changed the outfit two days before the actual production,” he said. “And I know all the stories and all the secrets. I know where all the bodies are buried.”
Lukas concluded that he doesn’t feel the need to hear an apology from Timberlake, but that the pop star should tell the full story.
Throughout the years, Jackson has maintained that the incident was an accident and has never indicated that it was a planned stunt gone wrong.