The nip ‘slip’ seen 'round the world

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Less than 24 hours after Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake's infamous "wardrobe malfunction" at the 2004 Super Bowl Halftime Show, the FCC sent CBS a letter demanding a full investigation.
That's a shorter response time than the United States declaring war on Japan after Pearl Harbor - and it was over a flash of partial nudity that lasted 9/16ths of a second.
For the next 8 years, FIRE Chief Counsel Bob Corn-Revere defended CBS against the FCC "sharpening their enforcement blade." Revere and his colleagues won the case, reversing the $550,000 fine against CBS and preventing the FCC from using this incident as a way to gain more censorial power over TV networks.
It was a victory for free speech and the First Amendment, and proof that censorship is never the answer.
#superbowl #nipplegate #justintimberlake #janetjackson

[@davemountain1139]

"They stared at that breast so long, I thought Osma bin Laden was hiding there." - Lewis Black

[@roni1384]

I'd love FIRE to do a video on dance/entertainment/art as protected free speech, specifically in regard to public spaces where children are present as reported in this NBC headline from 2/8/24: "A Tennessee city must pay $500,000 as part of a settlement with the ACLU and other groups over an ordinance designed to ban drag performances from taking place on public property, attorneys announce".

[@nobodynoone2500]

This was clever marketing, and completely intentional. The FCC was correct as intentionally violating it's clear standards at the peak viewership time in history was a bit too ballsy imho. The fact that the (quite poor) case fell in favor of those with better lawyers is no indication of fact outside the limited scope and evidence of the shoddy trial. Personally I think the biggest thing to learn from the event is how many people fell for it. Honestly didn't expect to be adding you to the list. Start being a little more critical please.

[@DR---]

Are you a psychopath? Because that's the only explanation I can think of as to why you think that they should have been fined for showing a nipple in a country that supposedly has protected free speech.

[@DaniTofte]

Exposing yourself is free expression? Gah.