Getty
Fans storm Twitter for the second year in a row to celebrate the music industry icon who received flak after Justin Timberlake exposed her nipple during the 2004 halftime show.
For most Americans, it's Super Bowl Sunday, but for the faithful it is once again Janet Jackson Appreciation Day.
For the second year in a row, fans got the hashtag trending on social media. And it's certainly no coincidence that Super Bowl Sunday has been chosen for this celebration as this is the 15th anniversary of the infamous halftime show that temporarily derailed her career, while Justin Timberlake suffered no slowdown whatsoever.
Getty
Janet Jackson Declares She's Tired of Being 'Stifled' and 'Gagged' by the Patriarchy During MTV EMAs
View StoryIt was, we suppose, her nipple that was exposed. But he is the one that exposed it, so there's that. Either way, it appears to have been an accident.
For many, the backlash that Jackson suffered and Timberlake apparently did not is indicative of the systemic racism and sexism of the entertainment industry, but it would have to be far more than just that industry. After all, Jackson was the one the media focused on, she had to release a public apology and many in the public at large turned on her as well.
And so last year -- when Justin played halftime -- her fans tried to spread a message of love and support, and a little bit of revenge, by getting #JanetJacksonAppreciationDay trending worldwide, at one point higher than the Super Bowl itself. And Sunday morning of this year, it was back.
It's a testament to the power of her fanbase and the outrage many still feel in how the aftermath of "Nipplegate" was handled in 2004 that this seems to be on its way to becoming an annual tradition driven entirely by the fans. It says a lot about the goodwill people have toward Jackson, who scored a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for 2019, as well as their growing frustration with the NFL.
ABC/Getty
'The View' Fired Up Over Maroon 5 Playing Super Bowl, Behar Argues ALL Artists 'Should Skip Halftime'
View StoryThis new "holiday," as it were, emerged shortly after the league began receiving criticism for its handling of former quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who has not been signed to a team since the controversy that erupted in 2016 over his kneeling during the national anthem in protest of system racism in law enforcement.
That protest got misconstrued by the president and many in the conservative media as a statement somehow against the American military, and the American flag. As other players began to kneel or show their support for Kaepernick in other ways, tensions rose between the NFL and the liberal public with cries of racism emerging over Kaepernick's effective blacklisting from the league.
As that situation continues to permeate through the league -- evidenced by the celebrities who have said they refused to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show and the negative reaction Maroon 5 has endured for agreeing to perform this year.
Getty
How Adam Levine Decided to Perform at the Super Bowl Anyway, Despite Controversy
View StoryThe #JanetJacksonAppreciationDay hashtag itself remains mostly positive and supportive. It is simply a declaration of love for Janet Jackson, with a little bit of shade thrown in to boot.
Below is just a sampling of what was happening on social media Sunday morning:
You have entered #JanetJacksonAppreciationDay pic.twitter.com/lTiT6nZUQU
@Breeyonnuh22
#JanetJacksonAppreciationDay Let's not forget how the white man/patriarchy/music industry tried to destroy the queen after her super bowl performance. The 2019 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee is still thriving though. We Stan. pic.twitter.com/317WNpQCLj
@lenny23816843
Janet has always been a class act even sent me a large gift basket when THE 5HEARTBEATS 1st came out.There are a few that give their all when they perform and she is one of them! Congratulations and sending you nothing but love #JanetJacksonAppreciationDay#JanetJackson pic.twitter.com/LlWkKUikPJ
@Robert_Townsend
#JanetJacksonAppreciationDay is a day of remembrance: We remember we never really gave a single fk about the football. pic.twitter.com/zk4XEpnIoV
@damage_done
LET THE RECORD SHOW that when all your favourite White Moguls in Hollywood refused to finance Spike Lee's 'Malcolm X' biopic, Janet Jackson put her hands in her pockets and helped finance it.
@TheMJAP
Put some respect on that family's name!
#JanetJacksonAppreciationDay pic.twitter.com/MSfJ2xu2cC
The 30-minute longform music video for @JanetJackson's 'Rhythm Nation 1814' includes a captivating chair routine that would be imitated for years after. #JanetJacksonAppreciationDay pic.twitter.com/lFgMdB2Nf1
@nancywyuen
Celebrating the ICON today and everyday. #Janetjacksonappreciationday 🙌🏾👑 pic.twitter.com/7WyCV3v3JW
@omarjmc
#janfam walking to Twitter for #JanetJacksonAppreciationDay like... pic.twitter.com/ezNh0jDJZ0
@Breeyonnuh22
I am here for #JanetJacksonAppreciationDay - this was the annual holiday I didn't know I needed. Thank you. #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/2EHZZFFzA3
@StacyLeMelle
So many people tried to break her and put a stop to her career. But here we are, over a decade later and she's back, stronger than ever. A Queen, Icon, and Legend. 💪🏾💖#JanetJacksonAppreciationDay pic.twitter.com/HmBeMeHXXp
@Lalaxo__
Les Moonves tried to singlehandedly destroy Janet Jackson on a corporate conglomerate level. Janet won. #JanetJacksonAppreciationDay pic.twitter.com/uR4yPrXpBf
@mzshannon
ahem *taps mic* #JanetJacksonAppreciationDay https://t.co/s60HpWZPNd
@Carolyn_Malachi
"No, my first name ain't baby. It's Janet. Miss Jackson is you're NASTY!"#JanetJacksonAppreciationDay pic.twitter.com/YgtmhXOgcy
@ithl123
🗣 I DONT CARE WHAT ANYBODY SAYS BUT THERE WOULD BE NO BEYONCÉ WITHOUT MS. JACKSON #JanetJacksonAppreciationDay pic.twitter.com/m4a30UiIxL
@BangaRangRufio1
Janet Jackson...
@DutchJanetFans
... is the most awarded living artist
... sold nearly 200 million albums
... has created ICONIC videos
... inspired most of todays artists
... did blockbuster movies
... has #1 albums in 4 decades#JanetJacksonAppreciationday#JusticeForDamitaJo #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/Ekjco3rw36
Feb 3: There may be some game on, but let's not forget that the music industry tried to shut Miss Janet Jackson down after the "wardrobe malfunction." JT walked away free, and Janet had to deal with blacklisting from CBS, Viacom, and others.#JanetJacksonAppreciationDay pic.twitter.com/LKElEvSOax
@joeyx666
Umm Hello?!?!...it's #JanetJacksonAppreciationDay 🙌🏾💜 #welovejanet @JanetJackson pic.twitter.com/QDLKpETTfL
@Nez9380
We love a queen who set the bar and paved the way for so many young black female artists #JanetJacksonAppreciationDay pic.twitter.com/TirGWIOH4S
@YerisWave
It's #JanetJacksonAppreciationDay? YESSSSSSSSSS.💃🏾☀️ pic.twitter.com/yAjcMWJWWX
@dontewhisenant
Let's not distract from the fact that @JanetJackson's performance was one of the best the #SuperBowl will ever see (except JT).
@Chameleon876
Great stage, choreography, set and the edgy steampunk costumes.
I stan. #JanetJacksonRocks#JanetJacksonAppreciationDaypic.twitter.com/QI7BdK0MQP
The last laugh... #JanetJacksonAppreciationDay pic.twitter.com/buty3zN8dP
@thecbar21
Got a story or a tip for us? Email TooFab editors at tips@toofab.com.
