I am sorry if anyone was offended by the wardrobe malfunction during the halftime performance at the Super Bowl. It was not intentional and is regrettable.

The statement is associated with the fallout from the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show (February 1, 2004) in Houston, where Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson performed and a brief exposure of Jackson’s breast occurred at the end of the set—an incident widely labeled a “wardrobe malfunction.” The moment triggered intense public controversy, FCC scrutiny, and broad debate about broadcast standards and accountability. In the days immediately following the broadcast, Timberlake issued public remarks framed as an apology, emphasizing that the exposure was unintended and expressing regret to viewers who felt offended.

The statement is a carefully hedged public apology: it expresses regret (“sorry,” “regrettable”) while limiting admission of wrongdoing by emphasizing lack of intent. The phrasing “if anyone was offended” shifts the focus from the act itself to audience reaction, a common strategy in crisis communication meant to acknowledge harm without conceding culpability. By calling it “not intentional,” Timberlake positions the incident as an accident rather than a planned stunt, aiming to reduce reputational damage and align with expectations of propriety for a mass broadcast event like the Super Bowl.