Janet Jackson’s infamous 2004 Super Bowl halftime show controversy has returned to the spotlight, with the singer’s longtime fashion designer making a fresh claim about what really happened during the performance.
Wayne Scot Lukas says the moment widely described as a “wardrobe malfunction” was not an accident but a planned reveal that was supposed to form part of the show’s choreography.
Speaking on TMZ Live on Tuesday, Lukas discussed Justin Timberlake’s upcoming four-part documentary series, which is scheduled to premiere on Apple TV+ in December. The designer says the incident will be a key part of the series, but claims he was never approached to contribute despite his involvement in creating Janet’s outfit.
Designer Says the Reveal Was Deliberate
According to Lukas, the original plan was for Janet to reveal her derrière during the performance. He said he had even prepared a G-string for that version of the outfit.
However, he claims the creative direction changed days before the Super Bowl, with the team deciding that revealing Janet’s breast would have a greater impact.
Lukas further alleged that the cameras were supposed to cut away and the broadcast screen was meant to go black immediately after the reveal. He blames the show’s producers for failing to execute that part of the plan.
The designer’s account offers a different explanation from Janet’s own long-standing position that the incident was accidental.
Lukas Says the Controversy Damaged His Career
Lukas also claimed that the fallout from the Super Bowl incident seriously damaged his professional career.
He said Timberlake has never apologised to him over what happened, although he added that he does not necessarily need an apology from the singer.
Instead, Lukas believes Timberlake should use his upcoming documentary to give what he considers an accurate account of the controversial performance.
The 2004 incident became one of the most discussed moments in Super Bowl halftime history, attracting widespread attention and debate about the broadcast, the performers and the consequences that followed.
With Timberlake’s documentary expected to revisit the controversy, viewers may get another account of an event that has remained part of pop culture discussions for more than two decades.
Whether the documentary addresses Lukas’s version of events remains to be seen.
