In the 1990s, Janet Jackson experienced a particularly memorable moment while performing her hit song “Rhythm Nation” in front of the British monarchy. Reflecting on the incident during an interview with British Vogue, the 58-year-old pop icon reminisced about flipping through a lookbook that featured some of her most iconic costumes. She paused when she reached one of the military-inspired outfits from her 1989 “Rhythm Nation” album, recalling a story that has since become legendary.
“Funny story,” Jackson began, speaking of the late Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away in September 2022 at the age of 96.“I was performing for the Queen of England, and we were doing ‘Rhythm Nation.”
The moment of embarrassment occurred when Jackson, mid-performance, squatted down and her pants split open right along the seam.
“Sure enough, as soon as I squatted, my pants split right up my booty crack,”
Jackson explained with a laugh, adding that she could hardly believe her misfortune. What initially seemed like an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction turned out to be even worse than she imagined. “Then I started feeling air back there, so I knew it had really happened,” she said. Demonstrating her quick thinking and professionalism, Jackson adapted her choreography on the spot, deciding to keep her back turned away from the Queen.
“I never turned my back to her, which, in some of the choreography, I was supposed to. I just faced forward,”
she recalled, laughing at the memory of her impromptu solution.This story is particularly striking given that Janet Jackson is most famously associated with another wardrobe malfunction that took place years later, during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show in Houston. During that performance with Justin Timberlake, an infamous moment occurred when Timberlake ripped off a piece of Jackson’s costume, accidentally exposing her nipple for a brief 9/16th of a second. Dubbed “Nipplegate,” the incident sparked widespread controversy, a torrent of viewer complaints, and resulted in significant professional repercussions for Jackson.
The fallout from the Super Bowl incident was severe. Jackson faced backlash from the media and the public, and her music videos were pulled from several Viacom networks, including MTV, VH1, and CBS. Additionally, she was uninvited from that year’s Grammy Awards. On the other hand, Timberlake appeared to face little to no negative consequences, a disparity that did not go unnoticed by fans and critics alike. The term “wardrobe malfunction” entered the public lexicon as a result, symbolizing the unfair double standards that Jackson had to endure.
The controversy surrounding the Super Bowl moment was revisited in 2021, following the release of “Malfunction: The Dressing Down of Janet Jackson,”The documentary sparked renewed scrutiny of the event and Timberlake’s role in it. With the FreeBritney movement gaining momentum in 2019 and bringing further attention to Timberlake’s past actions, he issued a public apology in February 2021 to both Janet Jackson and his ex-girlfriend, Britney Spears.
“I’ve seen the messages, tags, comments, and concerns, and I want to respond,” Timberlake stated. Reflecting on his behavior over the years, he expressed regret, saying, “I am deeply sorry for the times in my life where my actions contributed to the problem, where I spoke out of turn, or did not speak up for what was right.” Acknowledging his shortcomings, he added, “I understand that I fell short in these moments and in many others and benefited from a system that condones misogyny and racism. I specifically want to apologize to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson both individually because I care for and respect these women, and I know I failed.”
Despite the controversies that have marked her career, Janet Jackson continues to thrive as an enduring figure in the world of music. She is currently preparing to launch her Las Vegas residency with back-to-back performances on December 30th and New Year’s Eve at Resorts World Las Vegas. This latest chapter in her career serves as a testament to her resilience, talent, and lasting influence in the music industry.
For a closer look at Jackson’s humorous account of her royal wardrobe malfunction, watch her recount the story of her “de-pantsing” before the Queen.
