ATLANTA, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Michael Powell labeled Janet Jackson's Super Bowl breast bearing "deplorable" Monday, calling upon the FCC to investigate, CNN reports.
He pronounced the occasion "tainted by a classless, crass and deplorable stunt. Our nation's children, parents and citizens deserve better. I have instructed the commission to open an immediate investigation into last night's broadcast. Our investigation will be thorough and swift."
Top CBS executives had approved a musical skit where Janet Jackson would expose her breast during the MTV-produced Super Bowl half-time concert, the Drudge Report asserts.
"The decision to go forward went to the very top of the network," it quotes a well-placed source explained from New York. However, the CBS network, which broadcast the game, said there had been no indication during rehearsals the incident would occur and quickly apologized.
The groundbreaking scene came during the most-watched television broadcast of the year -- and during the dinner hour for the nation's west coast viewers.
Pop star Justin Timberlake tore off part of Jackson's corset at the end of their half time show, exposing her breast and the nipple which was covered with a silver sun burst.
MTV, which produced the show insisted the incident was unintentional, though ahead of time, it has been encouraging viewers to expect "shocking moments".
CBS's main New York switchboard was immediately bombarded with complaints about the stunt, network sources are reported as saying late Sunday.
NFL Executive Vice President Joe Brown also expressed outrage over the Super Bowl halftime show. ""We were extremely disappointed by elements of the MTV-produced Halftime show. They were totally inconsistent with assurances our office was given about the show. It's unlikely that MTV will produce another Super Bowl halftime," he said in a statement.
Justin Timberlake, who moments before tugging away part of Jackson's corset, sang, "I'll get you naked by the end of this song," admitted, "The moment did not conform to CBS broadcast standards and we would like to apologize to anyone who was offended. I am sorry," he said, "if anyone was offended by the wardrobe malfunction during the halftime performance at the Super Bowl. It was not intentional and is regrettable."
Janet Jackson made no official statement, but instead offered her apologies on MTV News through a spokesperson.
In a story posted on MTV.com before the game, Jackson's choreographer, Gil Duldulao, wrote, "I don't think the Super Bowl has ever seen a performance like this." "The dancing is great. She's more stylized, she's more feminine, she's more a woman as she dances this time around. There are some shocking moments in there, too."
