Justin Timberlake ‘insisted on’ Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction at Super Bowl to outdo ex Britney

It was the costume reveal seen around the world, giving rise to the term ‘wardrobe malfunction.’

And new details are coming to light about Justin Timberlake‘s infamous 2004 Super Bowl Halftime Show performance with Janet Jackson, which concluded with the former *NSYNC star ripping off a panel at her chest and baring her naked breast.

As reported by Page Six, celebrity stylist Wayne Scot Lukas said that Timberlake, now 40, was the one who insisted on the stunt in an effort to outdo his ex-girlfriend Britney Spears after her showy MTV Video Music Awards performance months earlier in which she kissed none other than Madonna.

New details are coming to light about Justin Timberlake‘s infamous 2004 Super Bowl Halftime Show performance with Janet Jackson: Stylist Wayne Scot Lukas said that Timberlake was the one who insisted on the stunt in an effort to outdo his ex-girlfriend Britney Spears

Regarding that VMA performance, Lukas told the outlet that Timberlake ‘insisted on doing something bigger than their performance. He wanted a reveal.’

And about the term ‘wardrobe malfunction,’ Wayne had some things to say as well. 

‘I wouldn’t call it a wardrobe ‘malfunction’ in a million years,’ he said. ‘It was the most functioning wardrobe in history. As a stylist, it did what it was intended to do.’

The stunt led to career troubles for Jackson, while Timberlake remained relatively unscathed, prompting fans to demand an apology from Justin to Janet for years.

Regarding Spears’ showy MTV Video Music Awards appearance months earlier in which she kissed Madonna: Lukas said Timberlake ‘insisted on doing something bigger than their performance. He wanted a reveal’

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And apologize he finally did, earlier this year – a move that was recently complicated by JT’s ex-manager Johnny Wright.

After the Rhythm Nation singer, 54, shared an inspirational quote last month urging her followers to ‘always chose to heal, not to hurt’ and ‘to forgive, not to despise’ on Instagram, Wright suggested she follow the mantra by repairing her relationship with Timberlake.

‘You should take this advice and to apply it to your relationship with Justin,’ he allegedly wrote under Jackson’s Instagram in screenshots captured and shared by her followers on Twitter.

Not fair: The stunt led to career troubles for Jackson, while Timberlake remained relatively unscathed, prompting fans to demand an apology from Justin to Janet for years

‘Justin was not aware of his comment to her. Johnny did this all on his own,’ a source close to the performer reportedly told Page Six on Friday. 

For his part, Timberlake attempted to apologize to both Janet and his ex Britney earlier this year, after he was tagged in social media posts about Spears and the campaign to release her from a conservatorship held by her father.

Justin was recently highlighted in the Hulu documentary Framing Britney Spears in February, which laid bare how Spears has, according to her fans, been exploited by the men in her life – JT included.  

Trying to one-up his ex: Justin was recently highlighted in the Hulu documentary Framing Britney Spears in February, which laid bare how Spears has, according to her fans, been exploited by the men in her life – JT included; the pair seen together in 2002

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He was cast in a negative light in the doc, which implied that his revenge song about her, Cry Me A River, in part caused Britney’s ensuing demonization in the media and eventual mental breakdown in 2007. 

In the long Instagram post, he wrote: ‘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.’ 

It’s unclear if Timberlake has been in touch with the women to apologize privately. Neither of them has responded publicly to his apology.   

Lukas, however, maintains that all is well on Janet’s side. 

‘Janet has already forgiven Justin in private. They made their peace a long time ago,’ he told Page Six.

‘I’ll never throw her under the bus,’ he added about Jackson. ‘She’s my friend and is one of the loveliest people I’ve ever worked for. There’s nothing shady about her.’

But about the perceived Timberlake-Jackson feud: Stylist Lukas, center, said, ‘Janet has already forgiven Justin in private. They made their peace a long time ago’: seen here with Janet and Deborah Cox, left, in 2005