Designer Reasserts Janet Jackson’s Super Bowl ‘Wardrobe Malfunction’ Was No Accident

Janet Jackson‘s 2004 Super Bowl halftime performance with Justin Timberlake remains one of the most talked-about moments in TV history. The infamous wardrobe malfunction, which exposed Jackson’s breast to millions of viewers during the live performance, sparked widespread controversy. More than two decades later, the fashion designer who created her attire is offering his account of what happened behind the scenes, including the plans for a carefully timed costume reveal.

Janet Jackson’s Fashion Designer Claims The Incident Was Not A ‘Wardrobe Malfunction’

Following reports that Janet Jackson will participate in a four-part tell-all documentary about Justin Timberlake, her former fashion designer is speaking out about the infamous 2004 Super Bowl halftime show.

Wayne Scot Lukas, who designed Jackson’s Super Bowl outfit, told TMZ‘s Harvey Levin and Charles Latibeaudiere that what Timberlake has repeatedly referred to as a “wardrobe malfunction” was actually a planned reveal that went awry.

Jackson headlined the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime performance and was joined by Timberlake for a performance of “Rock Your Body.” At the end, when he sang “Gonna have you naked by the end of this song,” Timberlake pulled on Jackson’s bustier, exposing her breast and nipple, which was accessorized with a nipple shield.

Lukas said the reveal was intentional, though a few factors contributed to the incident unfolding the way it did. He claimed that Timberlake saying it was a wardrobe malfunction was not accurate. “It is the most functioning wardrobe in history. It did exactly what it’s supposed to do.”

Inside The Plans For The Singer’s Big Reveal

According to Lukas, Jackson’s choreographer wanted a reveal that was “something bigger” than Madonna, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera’s on-stage kiss at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. The initial plan was to reveal Jackson’s buttocks in a G-string, which he showed to Levin.

Two days before the performance, however, the plans changed, and it was decided that Jackson should briefly expose her breast as a tease. The intention was to rip open the bustier, prompting the singer to immediately cover her breast as the live feed faded to black and the fireworks began.

Instead, “It was rip, she didn’t grab, they didn’t cut to black because they were partying in the van, and the fireworks came later, and Janet just stood there with her bouncing breast,” Lukas said.

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The Designer Is Reiterating His Past Claims

21 years ago, Janet Jackson performed at the Super Bowl https://t.co/kPHhs7OtKx

— culture (@notgwendalupe) February 1, 2025

This isn’t the first time Lukas has claimed there was no wardrobe malfunction. In 2021, he told Page Six about the original plan that was changed.

“Janet was going to be in a Rocha dress, and [Justin] was going to step on the back of her dress to reveal her butt in this pearl G-string,” he said. However, the plan and outfit changed a few days prior to the show, “and you saw the magic.”

In 2022, Lukas spoke with NewsNation about the incident, saying the camera should have cut away as soon as Jackson was exposed. “They kept the camera on Janet the whole time. They didn’t cut away.”

An Investigative Report Sheds Light On The Janet Jackson And Justin Timberlake Controversy

In 2018, USA Today dug deep into the Jackson and Timberlake controversy and tracked down some people who may have knowledge that could help determine if the reveal was planned.

The tailor who worked on the leather outfit said he was asked to alter it, but did not provide other details due to a non-disclosure agreement he signed.

Jim Steeg, then an NFL executive and the primary contact for the halftime show, said he had no prior knowledge of the reveal and immediately got in contact with the MTV producer, Salli Frattini, who was in charge of the halftime show. “I was upset, and I’m still upset about it,” he said then.

Frattini claimed there were no plans for any type of reveal. “There should not even have been an action moment or anything ever ripped off her body,” she told the outlet.

Body piercer Byriah Dailey, on the other hand, said Lukas went to his piercing shop in Houston and told him he was Jackson’s stylist. He bought the nipple jewelry that the singer wore during the performance and during the conversation, Lukas said, “Watch the halftime show. There’s going to be a surprise at the end.”

Janet Jackson Took The Brunt Of The Blame

Janet Jackson says Justin Timberlake was only supposed to rip off the outer layer of her costume at the 2004 Super Bowl. He ripped off more and exposed her breast on live TV. More than 500,000 people complained to the FCC. CBS was fined $550,000. His career kept going.

It was February 1, 2004, in Houston. The last line of the song he was singing was “gonna have you naked by the end of this song.” She says they rehearsed it, and that the plan was to leave a red layer showing underneath. She says more came off than was supposed to.

A day later she apologized on camera. She says her management told her to, and that she asked them what she was apologizing for, since it was an accident. CBS and MTV reportedly blacklisted her. The NFL was reportedly asked to refund $10 million to the halftime sponsor.

Her next album, Damita Jo, sold about 1 million copies, far fewer than her last two. In 2018 Timberlake headlined a Super Bowl halftime show of his own.

Two years after the show she told Oprah it was the first and last time she would talk about it. She said all the emphasis was put on her, not on him. She said that to a degree, yes, he left her hanging.

By then Timberlake had said he probably got 10% of the blame. He also said America is harsher on women, and harsher on ethnic people.

He says he got 10% of the blame. She took the other 90%.

Was Janet Jackson punished for an accident, or did she walk into a stunt that always had a price?

— Jake (@0xjakke) November 3, 2026

Both artists issued apologies following the incident, but Jackson faced significantly harsher backlash than Timberlake.

Jackson discussed the disparity in how the blame was distributed, telling Oprah in a 2006 interview, “They did put all the emphasis on me, as opposed to us.” She also said she regretted her apology, saying she was pressured by her management team but later realized that she shouldn’t have had to apologize for something she didn’t intentionally do.

As for what the plan was, she said, “He was to rip the piece off that he did, but more came off than what was supposed to… It was a very embarrassing moment.”