Janet Jackson’s designer claims Super Bowl moment was intentional, not a mistake
Wayne Scot Lukas told TMZ Live on November 3 that the outfit was designed for a specific reveal, but the broadcast team failed to cut to black as planned.
By Tessa Cooper ·
A new account of Janet Jackson’s 2004 Super Bowl halftime performance suggests the famous wardrobe moment was a calculated risk that went wrong, rather than an accidental slip. Wayne Scot Lukas, the designer responsible for Jackson’s outfit, appeared on TMZ Live on November 3 to outline his version of events.
Lukas stated that the original design concept involved exposing Jackson’s backside. He said he possessed a G-string intended for that purpose. According to Lukas, the team changed the plan just days before Super Bowl XXXVIII. The revised strategy was to reveal Jackson’s breast instead.
The designer maintained that the garment was constructed to allow for this specific reveal. He alleged that the production crew was instructed to cut the broadcast to black immediately after the reveal occurred. Lukas claimed the cameras stayed on, sending the image to millions of viewers before the scheduled switch happened.
Jackson has long described the incident as an unintended wardrobe malfunction. Justin Timberlake, who performed with her, issued a public apology after the broadcast. Neither performer has confirmed or denied Lukas’s current claims about the pre-planned nature of the reveal.
Lukas said the controversy affected his career. He expressed frustration that Timberlake never reached out to apologize to him directly. Lukas suggested the singer use his upcoming Apple TV docuseries to explain the sequence of events. The four-part series, directed by Fisher Stevens, is expected to release in December.
The reported series will also examine Timberlake’s past relationship with Britney Spears. Spears’ 2023 memoir, The Woman in Me, detailed their time together. She reportedly declined an invitation to participate in the documentary project.
The 2004 performance triggered a Federal Communications Commission investigation. CBS paid a fine of $550,000, a penalty that was later overturned. Jackson has continued her musical career, recently marking the 40th anniversary of her album Control.
