The FCC denied CBS' second appeal of a hefty fine for the now-notorious "wardrobe malfunction" at the 2004 Super Bowl. I'm sure we all remember where we were when, during the half-time performance, Justin Timberlake ripped off Janet Jackson's breast patch to reveal her bare boob and some sort of sun-like nipple ring. The incident touched off a fury among many Americans over indecency on television. After its second appeal, the FCC has ordered CBS to pay a $550,000 fine for the bare breast incident. The FCC concluded that the show was indecent and that the so-called wardrobe malfunction was, in fact, "willful".CBS will pay big for Janet's breast
The FCC denied CBS' second appeal of a hefty fine for the now-notorious "wardrobe malfunction" at the 2004 Super Bowl. I'm sure we all remember where we were when, during the half-time performance, Justin Timberlake ripped off Janet Jackson's breast patch to reveal her bare boob and some sort of sun-like nipple ring. The incident touched off a fury among many Americans over indecency on television. After its second appeal, the FCC has ordered CBS to pay a $550,000 fine for the bare breast incident. The FCC concluded that the show was indecent and that the so-called wardrobe malfunction was, in fact, "willful".
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
6-01-2006 @ 8:15AM
MrAkai said...
"The incident touched off a [artificial] fury among many Americansa small number of letter sending drones who did not even watch it over indecency on televisionevil black boobies."
There I fixed it.
The outrage, I tell you, a sorta-nipple thing in the middle of all our good family friendly organized violence...
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6-01-2006 @ 8:18AM
MrAkai said...
Grrr I guess the comment system doesn't support strikeout. I apologize for my attempt at humor falling flat on it's face.
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6-01-2006 @ 8:21AM
Thomas said...
Meanwhile people can kill each other left, right and center in American films and TV, the likes of CSI and Bones can show decomposing bodies and more, terrible, violent acts can be depicted but a nipple causes and absolute uproar. I'm not saying it should or shouldn't be allowed but really there is an inconsistency there somewhere.
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6-01-2006 @ 8:46AM
Sharon said...
Yes I really think that this was indeed not the time for Janet to do this if she felt the need to do this in public why oh why did she choose a family show to do it where it is daytime tv where everyone of all ages may see it some of us of a different race have not even seen a black naked body before or very little so this was very shocking to some
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6-01-2006 @ 8:49AM
Sharon said...
and i would have to say yes willful because i could feel the objection and michael told me not to look so i turned my head away from the tv
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6-01-2006 @ 8:50AM
Your Mom said...
That was such a magical moment. For about 3 seconds the Christian right had an enemy that was neither gay nor Jewish.
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6-01-2006 @ 8:52AM
Rusty said...
Incase there's a milk famine we'll know where to go!
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6-01-2006 @ 8:55AM
Gordy said...
Yep, willful. Let's just keep remembering that Janet didn't tear it off, Justin did. Glad to see TVSquad reported the incident [or, indecent] properly...most outlets don't.
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6-01-2006 @ 9:05AM
Doug said...
I wish America could get over it's prudish attitude about nudity in the first place, and the comment about family show- Superbowl really isn't about HALFTIME, nor COMMERCIALS.
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6-01-2006 @ 9:44AM
will said...
WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL, YOU HAVE SOME OVER PAID DO BOYS BEATINF THE CRAP OUT OF EACH OTHER, AND A BALCK LADY DECIDES TO SHOW A BREAST, HOW MANY TIMES DO THE WOMEN IN THE STANDS SHOW THERES..AND ISN'T BEING IN THE STANDS CONSIDERED "FAMILY TIME"....WHY DON'T PEOPLE GET A LIFE AND QUIT TRYING TO LEAD OTHERS LIFES
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6-01-2006 @ 9:50AM
Val said...
Who cares? A hooch showed her boob, nothing new there. Was anyone listening to the song lyrics? OF COURSE IT WAS ON PURPOSE!
They should pay the fine and ban Janet from any CBS appearances.
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6-01-2006 @ 10:07AM
Tool said...
I think that CBS is trying to milk all that it can from Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction.
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6-01-2006 @ 11:41AM
Evadne said...
I'm with Gordy--let's not forget that it was Justin who exposed her (apparently accidentally, but the point, anyway, is that she didn't do it herself), and Janet looked violated after it happened (look at the screen cap with this very post--she looks horrified)--that's "willful" exposure?
And I think we would have all forgotten about this long ago if the FCC didn't keep bringing it up. Cut CBS some slack. And, frankly, the FCC ought to apologize to Janet Jackson for claiming she did it on purpose.
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6-01-2006 @ 12:24PM
Tucker said...
"Gentlemen, we received 20 phone calls about the incident. And as you know, one call equals a million people, so that means 20 million people were offended!"
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6-01-2006 @ 1:35PM
Etana said...
Wow. I can't believe that this is still news. Yes. There was a boob exposed. Big freaking deal. Isn't this old news by now?
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6-01-2006 @ 2:34PM
Bex said...
I think CBS should tell the FCC to F off. What would happen if they didn't pay the fine? Probably nothing.
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6-01-2006 @ 4:25PM
Brent McKee said...
The question shouldn't be whether or not it was "willful", it should be whether or not anyone at CBS, or indeed anyone in charge of preduction of the halftime show actually knew that Justin and Janet were going to do it. If CBS didn't know ahead of time what was going to happen then why should htey be fined?
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6-01-2006 @ 4:31PM
Gordy said...
It's not like they'll go broke if they just pay the damned thing.
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6-01-2006 @ 7:29PM
Erica said...
I'm still waiting for an "accidentally" exposed penis, so we can move past this.
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6-02-2006 @ 1:59AM
Jen said...
Erica - I'm with you.
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