Tom Brady Faces Backlash for Comments on Rihanna's Halftime Show and Janet Jackson's Wardrobe Malfunction Incident during 2004 Super Bowl Performance with Justin Timberlake.
| Sports agent Doug Elridge reflects on Tom Brady's legacy following his retirement from the NFL on 'Your World. |
Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champion, has faced backlash after reflecting on the infamous Janet Jackson Super Bowl halftime show wardrobe malfunction in 2004, saying it was "probably a good thing" for the NFL as it brought more publicity for the game and halftime shows.
| Tom Brady said he was asked about Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction after the Patriots beat the Panthers in 2004, but he hadn't seen the show, so he didn't know what anyone was talking about at first. |
While reviewing Sunday's game and Rihanna's halftime show, Brady also praised the "Rude Boy" singer, calling her a "great performer" who "blows everyone away all the time."
| Justin Timberlake ripped off a piece of Janet Jackson's costume during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show. |
Brady admitted that in his years of playing the Super Bowl, he missed the halftime shows because he was focused on preparing for the second half. But he remembered the frenzy that ensued after Justin Timberlake ripped off a part of Jackson’s clothing during a duet in the halftime show, revealing her right breast on national TV. Reflecting on the incident nearly 20 years later, Brady said it was probably a "good thing" for the league "because it got everybody to talk about it, and it was just more publicity and more publicity for halftime shows."
However, Brady received criticism for his comments, with many people accusing him of being "shallow" for not considering how negatively the moment affected Jackson's career. Some also brought up the racial element, with Jackson being criticized more harshly than Timberlake, contributing to her career suffering after the performance.
| Jackson supporters were not pleased by Tom Brady's comments. |
Jackson herself has spoken about the incident, saying it "should not have happened" and turning down an offer from Timberlake to join him onstage when he returned to the Super Bowl in 2018. Timberlake, who has since apologized, said in 2018 that he had "made peace" and moved past the drama from the show, adding that he "absolutely" took time with Jackson to "resolve the situation" and "make peace" after the debacle.
The incident led to an investigation by the Federal Communications Commission. Brady did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the backlash.
