- Title: USA: JANET JACKSON BANNED FROM GRAMMYS FOLLOWING BOOB INCIDENT AT SUPERBOWL.
- Date: 5th February 2004
- Summary: (W1) LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE) (REUTERS) BRITNEY SPEARS ARRIVING AT 2003 AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS
- Embargoed: 20th February 2004 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA AND HOUSTON, TEXAS UNITED STATES / VARIOUS MUSIC VIDEO LOCATIONS
- City:
- Country: USA
- Topics: Entertainment,General,People
- Reuters ID: LVA9S6SEAGTEJ9UAECZGI607620Y
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- Story Text: Janet Jackson reportedly no longer invited to Grammy Awards after exposing a breast at the Super Bowl.
After glimpsing more of Janet Jackson than they bargained for during a notorious Super Bowl half-time show, television viewers may miss the singer altogether on the upcoming Grammy Awards broadcast.
Jackson, whose breast-baring Super Bowl performance sparked a public furore and federal regulatory investigation, will not be appearing as a Grammy Awards presenter as previously planned, according to reports Wednesday (February 4) on syndicated TV American entertainment news shows "Entertainment Tonight" and "Access Hollywood."
"Access Hollywood" added that the CBS network, which carried the Super Bowl telecast and is broadcasting the Grammys this coming Sunday, retracted its invitation for Jackson to introduce a planned Grammy tribute to soul legend Luther Vandross.
"I think it's not a surprise," said Andy Wallenstein, a reporter for the industry trade paper "The Hollywood Reporter. "CBS, at this point, doesn't want to do anything that will anger the FCC. Keeping Janet Jackson on the air so soon after this incident would really not set the right image with the FCC."
Representatives for both the Viacom Inc.-owned network and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which presents the Grammys, declined to comment on the reports. There was no immediate comment from Jackson's pu blicist or her label, Virgin Records.
Jackson was conspicuously absent from a press release issued early Wednesday (February 4) by Grammy organizers listing the show's lineup of celebrity hosts, presenters and performers.
But pop idol Justin Timberlake, who ripped open Jackson's black leather bustier to expose her right breast at the end of their steamy half-time duet on Sunday (February 1), remained on the Grammys' entertainment roster.
Meanwhile pop singer Britney Spears will reportedly voluntarily sit out the Grammy Awards. Spears is Timberlake's former girlfriend and they have avoided one another at social events in the past.
In addition, Timberlake is a nominee this year in several categories, while Spears was only slated to present awards. The two singers are also both on the Jive Records label.
On Tuesday, a Grammy spokesman insisted that both Jackson and Timberlake would appear as planned for the broadcast of the recording industry's highest honours.
Jackson, Timberlake, CBS and sister cable outlet MTV, which produced the halftime show, have all apologized for the breast-flashing incident. Jackson, who has a new album due for release next month, has said the disrobing stunt was her idea but went further than she had anticipated.
Timberlake called it a "wardrobe malfunction."
CBS already faces an inquiry from the Federal Regulatory Commission on whether broadcast indecency standards were violated by the incident, which capped a highly sexualized dance routine by Jackson, Timberlake and a group of scantily clad backup performers. The network is also airing the Grammys live from Los Angeles.
However, it has been reported that the broadcast will be transmitted on an enhanced delay of up to five minutes that should allow censors to thwart any stunt like Janet Jackson's. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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