Janet Jackson is in apology mode.
The singer, who has earned more publicity than any of her recent albums have done -- and consumed almost as much newspaper columns and television hours as her elder brother Michael has -- for her show of breast at last Sunday's Super Bowl, took responsibility for the incident yesterday.
In a videotaped statement, Jackson said, 'I am really sorry if I offended anyone. That was truly not my intention. My decision to change the Super Bowl performance was actually made after the final rehearsal. MTV (who produced the half-time show at the Super Bowl), CBS (who telecast the Super Bowl), the NFL (National Football League, which hosts the most watched sporting event in America) had no knowledge of this whatsoever, and unfortunately, the whole thing went wrong in the end.'
This is Jackson's second apology; she issued one on Monday.
The second apology will lay to rest international speculation that pop star Justin Timberlake accidentally ripped off Jackson's bustier at the end of the show.
It is unlikely that Jackson's apology will end the investigation undertaken into the incident by the US Federal Communications Commission which is headed by Secretary of State Colin Powell's son, Michael.
Eighty nine million people saw the Super Bowl, and 'Nipplegate,' as it has been described, has replaced 9/11 as the most requested search on the Internet.
Michael Powell told the programme Good Morning America that he was unhappy with other elements on the half-time show as well, not just the Janet-Justin ruckus. He said he was upset with some of the things Kid Rock and Nelly did during the half-time show, a ritual during the Super Bowl.
The incident has led CBS to re-introduce the five second delayed broadcast for its telecast of the Grammy Awards this Sunday.
