Words: Lavinia Petrucci | Subbing: Bernadette Galbraith
Justin Timberlake has been confirmed as the headliner for the Super Bowl LII Pepsi Halftime Show. This will be his third time performing, but the first since the Janet Jackson incident.
After rumours circulated this month, Justin Timberlake announced on Twitter in a video with Jimmy Fallon that he will be performing at the 2018 Super Bowl Halftime Show.
I DO have the time. Half the time…#PepsiHalftime #SBLII @Pepsi @NFL @JimmyFallon @FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/4Z4Dz29l3X
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) October 23, 2017
Justin’s first half time performance was in 2001 with former band *NSYNC. The second was in 2004, when the infamous Janet Jackson “Nipplegate” happened. He pulled out a piece of her outfit, revealing her nipple with an estimated 140 million viewers at home. Due to this a five-second delay was added to every future performance and CBS had to pay a $550,000 fine by the Federal Communications Commission.
Timberlake told NBC’s Football Night in America: “What I really want to do is take the opportunity to put together a performance that feels like it unifies…I feel like that would be the ultimate accomplishment.”
.@MikeTirico sat down with #SBLII halftime performer @jtimberlake to preview #PepsiHalftime. pic.twitter.com/X5D9vdO0T1
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) October 23, 2017
Some reactions on Twitter were not positive. He was criticised for accepting the invitation to perform, considering that Janet is still banned from performing at the Super Bowl because of the unfortunate nip slip. Fans expressed their disappointment using the hashtag #Justice4Janet.
We failed #JanetJackson back in 2004. We MUST have her back this time around. #JustinTimberlake should be banned by the @NFL! #Justice4Janet
— Elgin Charles (@ElginCharles) October 23, 2017
The Super Bowl will take place on February 4th 2018 in Minneapolis.