The rumors have been swirling for a few weeks now it’s official. Justin Timberlake is set to be the 2018 Super Bowl halftime show headliner.
The entertainer made the announcement himself via twitter with a little help from his pal, Tonight show host, Jimmy Fallon. Fake accents abound! NBC is airing Super Bowl 52 on Sunday February 4.
I DO have the time. Half the time…#PepsiHalftime #SBLII @Pepsi @NFL @JimmyFallon @FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/4Z4Dz29l3X
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) October 23, 2017
This will be Timberlake’s 3rd halftime appearance. The first time was 2001 as a member of ‘N Sync. The second was his notorious appearance in 2004 when he ripped off Janet Jackson’s top to briefly reveal her breast.
Twitter has been ablaze with fans asking for a Janet and Justin re-do. #JusticeForJanet is a thing. While Jackson’s career took a major hit after the incident, Timberlake somehow remained unscathed. He insisted, at the time, that he had no idea nudity would be involved in the act. Love ya Justin, but you threw Janet under the bus.
During an interview with Mike Tirico which aired during halftime of Sunday’s NBC Sunday Night Football, Timberlake promised that everyone involved would keep their clothes on.
Tirico: “At any point in the ask, did they say, ‘Hey, just the last time there was a little wardrobe thing. Can we make sure that doesn’t happen? And as long as you’re good with that, were good with you.’”
Timberlake: “(Laughs) That won’t happen this time. There was a little bit of that. But…no, Mike, that’s not going to happen.”
As far as the kind of performance fans can expect when he takes the stage on Sunday February 4 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Timberlake said:
“I know, man. I’ve got to consider these things. When I look back at Super Bowl halftime shows I have participated in, and former ones of other artists like Beyoncé, Bruno (Mars), Coldplay, and then I would say legends like Michael (Jackson) and Bruce (Springsteen). I think the U2 performance, based on what was happening in the world at the time, the hair on the back of my neck stands up just thinking about it.
Now, what I really want to do is take the opportunity to put together a performance that feels like it unifies. I feel like that would be the ultimate accomplishment, and then the icing on the cake is at some point, within that 12 minutes, that everybody is shaking their booty.
