Janet Jackson has confirmed that she will not be participating in Sunday's Super Bowl Halftime performance. Speaking to TMZ, the legendary singer debunked speculation that she would be reuniting with Justin Timberlake on the Super Bowl stage. "To put to rest any speculation or rumors as to whether I will be performing at the Super Bowl tomorrow: I will not," she said. "Thank you for your support and I do look forward to seeing you all very soon."
The 2004 Halftime Show in which Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson performed together ended in controversy. At the end of their performance, Timberlake ripped off a portion of Janet's dress to reveal her breast, inspiring backlash and a conversation about censorship that was later deemed Nipplegate. Janet's career was negatively affected by the event, while Timberlake went on to more success. Many feel that Timberlake let Jackson take the fall for the controversy.
Timberlake was asked about his take on the event in an interview with Zane Lowe earlier this year. “I had my wires crossed and it’s just something that you have to look back on and go like, ‘Ok, well you know, you can’t change what’s happened but you can move forward and learn from it,'” he said. He added that he and Jackson had made amends over the incident in private. "I don’t know that a lot of people know that,” he explained. “I mean, I don’t think it’s my job to do that. Because you value the relationships that you do have with people.”
Over the course of Saturday, Timberlake has been criticized over a report that he would welcome a hologram version of the late Prince to the stage. According to those close to the singer, as well as through his own words, a posthumous hologram is something he would have approved of.
The Super Bowl airs Sunday night at 6:30 PM EST.