Janet Jackson’s designer reveals shocking truth behind infamous Super Bowl ‘wardrobe malfunction’
Janet Jackson’s longtime fashion designer, Wayne Scot Lukas, claimed her infamous “wardrobe malfunction” at the 2004 Super Bowl Halftime Show was planned.
Lukas told TMZ Sports on Tuesday that Jackson’s outfit was designed for her breast to be exposed by Justin Timberlake, in the hopes of outdoing a viral pop culture moment from 2003.
“Britney [Spears], Madonna and Christina Aguilera kissed in front of Justin on MTV. So, Janet’s choreographer Gill said, ‘We have to do something bigger.’ That’s how this became that,” Lukas said.
Lukas alleged the “biggest mistake” of the Super Bowl incident was made by the MTV producers for failing to cut to black after Timberlake, 45, tore off part of Jackson’s top.
“They kind of left Janet out hanging,” Lukas said. “So the people I’d blame are the MTV producers.”
Lukas also claimed that after Jackson “just stood there with her bouncing breasts,” the “Together Again” singer “was supposed to come back down under the stage to meet me to wrap her up in clothes, and she never came back down.”
“She disappeared,” Lukas added.
Lukas also claimed Jackson was initially supposed to wear a G-string and show her butt at the Super Bowl. However, the plan changed two days before the game, and Lukas redesigned her outfit.
As for Timberlake, Lukas said the “Mirrors” singer hasn’t apologized for the incident.
“He never made up with any of us,” Lukas shared. “We all lost a lot of work. I had moral clauses in my contract. I was losing jobs. I had to stay quiet for my friend Janet — and I did.”
The celebrity stylist also claimed he hasn’t been asked to participate in Timberlake’s upcoming Apple TV docuseries to discuss his and Jackson’s infamous Super Bowl moment.
“I’m the only one who really knows what happened, because I designed the outfit, made the outfit, and changed the outfit two days before the actual production,” Lukas explained. “I know all the stories and all the secrets, and I know where the bodies are buried.”
Lukas also said that while he “doesn’t need an apology” from Timberlake, he wants the pop singer to “tell the truth” in the doc.
Lukas previously told Page Six that Timberlake pushed for the “wardrobe malfunction” so they could outshine Spears and Madonna’s viral kiss at the 2003 MTV VMAs.
“Justin insisted on doing something bigger than their performance. He wanted a reveal,” Lukas said.
The day after the Super Bowl aired, Jackson apologized for the incident, saying that the decision to have a “costume reveal” toward the end of their performance was “made after final rehearsals.”
“It was not my intention that it go as far as it did. MTV, CBS [and] the NFL had no knowledge of this whatsoever and, unfortunately, the whole thing went wrong in the end,” she added at the time.
After receiving over half a million complaints, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched an investigation into the incident.
Jackson was pressured to withdraw from presenting at the 2004 Grammy Awards, and her music videos and singles were blacklisted by MTV and CBS chief Les Moonves.
During her 2022 two-part Lifetime documentary, Jackson said the Super Bowl incident “was blown way out of proportion.”
“It was an accident that should not have happened, but everyone is looking for someone to blame and that’s gotta stop,” she said.
Jackson also confirmed that she and Timberlake forgave each other, moved on and have remained good friends.