Janet Jackson Says She and Justin Timberlake Are "Very Good Friends"

Janet Jackson has cleared the air about her friendship with Justin Timberlake.

The superstar addressed the controversy and fallout around the wardrobe malfunction during her 2004 Super Bowl Halftime Show in her intimate documentary JANET JACKSON., which premiered on Lifetime on Friday and Saturday. A large part of the fourth hour of the special was dedicated to Jackson speaking her piece on the event and aftermath, as well as her friendship with Justin Timberlake.

The conversation began with a 2017 clip of Janet's brother and manager Randy Jackson telling her that Timberlake's team asked her to join him for the 2018 Super Bowl Halftime Show. She ends up turning the opportunity down.

"When I think about it, would it be nice to be able to perform? Yes," Janet says. "Our family, we love entertaining. But on the flip side of it, it’s stretching out the past, reliving something that happened over 10 years ago."

After some archival footage surrounding the 2004 show, including clips of the preparation and news footage of the fallout, the "Rhythm Nation" singer reveals that she advised Timberlake not to make a statement.

"We talked once and [Justin] said, 'I don't know if I should come out and make a statement,'" she says. "And I said, 'Listen, I don't want any drama for you. They're aiming all of this at me.' So I said, 'If I were you, I wouldn't say anything.'"

Following the incident, Jackson's career took a toll as she received most of the criticism around the incident, with the star claiming that she was disinvited from the Grammy's following the Super Bowl. In recent years, her fans have criticized Timberlake for not speaking out on the incident.

Last February, the "SexyBack" singer posted a lengthy apology towards both Jackson and Britney Spears, in which he said he "benefited from a system that condones misogyny and racism."

"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," he wrote.

Despite the controversy, the star explains in the doc that she and Timberlake became friendly while *NSYNC was the opening act for her Velvet Rope Tour, and that they are still on good terms to this day.

"Honestly, this whole thing was blown way out of proportion. And, of course, it was an accident that should not have happened, but everyone is looking for someone to blame and that's got to stop," she says of the incident.

"Justin and I are very good friends, and we will always be very good friends," she continues. "We spoke just a few days ago. He and I have moved on, and it's time for everyone else to do the same."

You Might Also Like

• A Cleaning Expert Explains the Best Way to Clean Cloth Face Masks After You Wear Them — Good Housekeeping

• 35 Delicious Pantry Recipes That Use What's Already in Your Cabinets and Freezer — Good Housekeeping

• The Amish keep to themselves. And they’re hiding a horrifying secret. — Cosmopolitan