The expression wardrobe malfunction was coined by singer Justin Timberlake after an incident during the 38th Super Bowl (American football) tournament in February 2004. During the controversial half-time show, Timberlake and singer Janet Jackson were performing a duet containing suggestive dance moves. As the song reached the final line, Timberlake pulled off part of Jackson’s costume, and in doing so revealed part of her right breast, cameras immediately cutting to an aerial view of the stadium. In a subsequent statement, Timberlake is quoted as saying: ‘I am sorry that anyone was offended by the wardrobe malfunction during the halftime performance of the Super Bowl … It was not intentional and is regrettable.’ The whole incident proved highly controversial however, leading to an investigation by the US Federal Communications Commission and prompting speculation that it had been an intentional publicity stunt.

The expression wardrobe malfunction was coined by singer Justin Timberlake after an incident during the 38th Super Bowl (American football) tournament in February 2004. During the controversial half-time show, Timberlake and singer Janet Jackson were performing a duet containing suggestive dance moves. As the song reached the final line, Timberlake pulled off part of Jackson’s costume, and in doing so revealed part of her right breast, cameras immediately cutting to an aerial view of the stadium. In a subsequent statement, Timberlake is quoted as saying: ‘I am sorry that anyone was offended by the wardrobe malfunction during the halftime performance of the Super Bowl … It was not intentional and is regrettable.’ The whole incident proved highly controversial however, leading to an investigation by the US Federal Communications Commission and prompting speculation that it had been an intentional publicity stunt.