Pop music icon Justin Timberlake will be taking the stage at the halftime show of Superbowl 52 this 2018, in his first headlining performance at the renowned sports event.
This is not the first time Timberlake will be performing at the Super Bowl. Timberlake graced the Super Bowl stage twice before, first as a member of the teen pop group N'Sync in 2001, then as a guest star of headliner Janet Jackson in 2004.
Controversy has surrounded Timberlake's return to the Super Bowl after being involved (and quite literally having a hand in) an issue of indecent exposure on national TV during his past performance with Jackson. The incident happened at the end of the duo's performance, where Timberlake accidentally ripped off part of Jackson's wardrobe, exposing her right breast.
The event was broadcast live by TV network Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), exposing the incident to all its viewers nationwide. This later prompted the Federal Communications Commission to subject the network to a fine of $550,000, which was eventually tossed out by a federal appeals court.
In an interview with Zane Lowe on Beats 1, Timberlake said that he has since made peace with Jackson, and that they spoke privately following the incident.
Fans of Timberlake can expect a walk down memory lane with Timberlake getting a full 13 mins of stage time at Super Bowl 52. In a behind-the-scenes interview with E! News, Timberlake expressed the pressure he felt for the upcoming show stating, "I am really looking at it as my first time," adding, "My biggest challenge is what is my fingerprint on that show come February 4th. It's going to go by quick."
It is apparent that Timberlake wants to make this a memorable performance and leave his mark on the iconic sports event. Fans can expect something new and out of the box with a cryptic statement by Timberlake: "A bit of unknown is what I'm always enthralled by."
Super Bowl 52 will be aired live from the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Feb. 4 at 6:30 P.M. EST, tentatively.
