Justin Timberlake is reportedly poised to headline the 2018 Super Bowl halftime show, 13 years after he became caught up in Janet Jackson’s infamous wardrobe controversy.
Sources tell Us Weekly Timberlake “is finalizing” a deal to return to America’s National Football League (NFL) championship event, which will take place in Minneapolis, Minnesota on February 4 (2018).
Representatives for Timberlake and the NFL have yet to comment on the new reports. Justin’s old collaborator JAY-Z and ex-girlfriend Britney Spears were also previously linked to the big gig, which featured Lady Gaga earlier this year.
If the news is true, Justin will likely be planning to keep his set family-friendly, after hitting headlines back in 2004 when he joined Jackson onstage for the half-time show and ripped off part of her costume to unexpectedly reveal her bare breast on live TV.
As the scandal, which was dubbed “Nipplegate”, escalated, the singer spoke out and apologised, confessing he had no idea Jackson intended to go topless – if that, indeed, was her intention.
He distanced himself from the incident and from Jackson, but, five years later, admitted he could have handled the controversy and the fall-out from the show a lot better.
“I wish I had supported Janet more,” he told Entertainment Weekly magazine. “I am not sorry I apologised, but I wish I had been there more for Janet.”
Timberlake also made an appearance during the 2017 Super Bowl broadcast, when he featured in a commercial alongside Christopher Walken to promote the Bai Antioxidant Infusions beverage brand. The ad gave a nod to the 36-year-old’s days with boy band ‘N Sync by having veteran actor Walken perform a dramatic reading of the lyrics to their hit Bye Bye Bye.
