Timberlake Super Bowl booking prompts backlash

Women, minorities and others say Janet Jackson was unfairly forced to pay a far higher price than he ever faced.

NEW YORK — The booking of Justin Timberlake for the Super Bowl halftime show has triggered a backlash from women, minorities and others who say Janet Jackson was unfairly forced to pay a far higher price than he ever faced for that breast-baring “wardrobe malfunction” at the big game in 2004.

Hashtag #justiceforjanet trended on social media this week after the NFL announced that Timberlake would perform Feb. 4 in Minneapolis.

Singer Janet Jackson covers her breast as Justin Timberlake holds part of her costume after her outfit came undone on Feb. 1, 2004. Associated Press/Elise Amendola

Some argued that Jackson fell victim to a sexist and racist double standard and received harsher treatment over a decade ago than Timberlake did, while he benefited from “white male privilege.”

“His body was not criminalized and demonized in the way that hers was, and that has everything to do with being a white man,” said Janell Hobson, an associate professor of women’s, gender and sexuality studies at the State University of New York at Albany.

Thirteen years ago, as Timberlake sang the lyrics “Bet I have you naked at the end of this song,” he ripped Jackson’s costume to reveal her right breast, bare except for a nipple ring. Jackson said her lace undergarment was supposed to remain intact but accidentally pulled away.

She was barred a week later from the Grammy telecast.