Janet Jackson has revealed she suffered an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction in front of Queen Elizabeth during a Rhythm Nation performance.
The 58-year-old music icon ripped his pants right at the “butt crack” while performing the world leader’s iconic song.
Janet recalled the mishap as she described her fashion moments over the years with British Vogue.
‘It’s a funny story about this outfit. I was performing for the Queen of England and doing Rhythm Nation and sure enough, as soon as I squatted down, my pants ripped right at my buttocks.
“I couldn’t believe what had happened. I thought, ‘Oh my God. ‘ And then I started feeling air back there, so I knew it really had to have happened.
Janet Jackson has revealed she suffered an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction in front of Queen Elizabeth during a Rhythm Nation performance in the 1990s.
The 58-year-old music icon ripped his pants right at the ‘butt crack’ while performing Rhythm Nation for Queen Elizabeth; the late monarch pictured in 2017
In order not to dazzle the queen, he avoided turning his back to her, even though the choreography required him to do so.
“And the whole time it was fine until they told me, ‘No, you’re going to perform for the Queen of England.’ So I never turned my back. Like I was supposed to do part of the choreography… I just looked forward.”
Jackson recalled that as he reflected on the iconic Rhythm Nation military-style look he sported when he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1990.
She said the look was inspired by the film adaptation of the book Fahrenheit 451.
‘And then I needed someone to build it and I thought, “Oh my God, who could do this for me?” I went to my brothers, they had someone they worked with quite often, his name was Bill Whitten.
“And Bill is the one, because all those plates had to be made. He did a wonderful job. Beautiful job.”
This is certainly not the first time Jackson has suffered a wardrobe malfunction on stage.
Janet graced the Super Bowl stage with her own set in 2004, but the night is now remembered for her unfortunate wardrobe malfunction during a duet with Justin Timberlake.
Jackson recalled Rhythm Nation’s iconic military look that he sported when he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1990.
The ‘N Sync star had been a surprise guest and during part of the choreography, he removed a portion of Janet’s costume, which revealed her right breast adorned with a sun-shaped nipple shield.
The backlash had a shocking effect on Janet’s career in the years that followed, and controversy has long overshadowed her performance that night.
In addition to her career nearly coming to a complete halt, Janet was forced to apologize for the incident on a major media tour, while Justin emerged relatively unscathed.
It wasn’t until the release of the New York Times documentary Framing Britney Spears that the issue came to light again.
Janet graced the Super Bowl stage with her own set in 2004, however, the night is now remembered for her unfortunate wardrobe malfunction during a duet with Justin Timberlake.
This prompted the Tennessee-born artist to issue a public apology to both women.
He said in the note: ‘I deeply regret the times in my life when my actions contributed to the problem, when I spoke out of turn or did not speak up for what was right.
‘I understand that I failed in those moments and in many others and that I benefited from a system that condones misogyny and racism.’
Justin added: “I want to specifically apologize to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson individually, because I care about these women and I respect them and I know I failed.”
The controversy was also recently rekindled in the New York Times Presents documentary, Malfunction: The Dressing Down of Janet Jackson.