Janet Jackson has claimed she was unceremoniously uninvited to the 2004 Grammy Awards following her infamous ‘nipple gate’ wardrobe malfunction at the Super Bowl that same year.
The 55-year-old music legend is having her life and career placed back under the spotlight thanks to a candid new two-part documentary all about her.
The documentary doesn’t shy away from the more difficult areas of Janet’s life – including her infamous 2004 Super Bowl performance which drew heavy criticism when Justin Timberlake joined her on stage for a performance where he tore open her top, exposing one of her breasts and a pierced nipple.
In her self-titled documentary – which has already aired in the USA and will be shown in the UK via Sky this week – Janet claims she was “disinvited” from the Grammy Awards that were held soon after the controversial performance.
Janet’s 49-year-old ex-boyfriend Jermaine Dupri, who she dated from 2002 until 2009, also features in the documentary where he claims he quit his role as a member of the Grammys’ board in protest at her disinvitation.
He is shown saying: “I felt like they were disrespectful to Janet, and I resigned at that point.”
Past reports have claimed that both Janet and Justin were banned from the event in 2004 following the Super Bowl show disaster – but Justin was eventually permitted to attend to accept the Best Male Pop Vocal Performance award after he made a grovelling apology.
While claims have been made that Les Moonves, the then CEO of CBS which airs the Grammy’s, refused to show Janet lenience after she didn’t issue a grovelling apology to him herself.
The Huffington Post previously reported: “Timberlake was allowed to perform after he tearfully apologized for the incident.
“The CBS chief executive, according to sources who spoke to me, was furious that Jackson didn’t make a similarly contrite apology to him.”
Things only got worse for Janet, however, as the report goes on to claim: “Moonves ordered Viacom properties VH1 and MTV, and all Viacom-owned radio stations, to stop playing Jackson’s songs and music videos.”
And many fans have said the ‘nipplegate’ row wrongfully derailed Janet’s career, while Justin appeared to be free to progress without reprimand.
In her documentary, however, Ms Jackson says that the incident is all water under the bridge for her and Justin.
She says: "We talked once and he said, 'I don't know if I should come out and make a statement.' And I said, 'Listen, I don't want any drama for you. They're aiming all of this at me'.
"So I said, 'If I were you, I wouldn't say anything'."
She continued: "Honestly, this whole thing was blown way out of proportion.
"And, of course, it was an accident that should not have happened, but everyone is looking for someone to blame and that's got to stop."
Janet Jackson will air in the UK via Sky Documentaries and Now TV from 31st January.
