Exposing dark forces behind Jackson's fall

Nine Sixteenths explores the fall-out following ‘nipplegate’, writes DAVE FREAK

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The cast of Nine Sixteenths, with Paula Varjack second from left, and (inset) Janet Jackson covers up during her duet with Justin Timberlake at Superbowl 2004

BACK in 2004, Janet Jackson was one of the biggest pop stars on the planet. But her career imploded after a suggestive televised halftime Superbowl duet with Justin Timberlake, during which her right breast was fleetingly exposed to nearly 90 million viewers.

Dubbed ‘Nipplegate; the resulting uproar sent millions more rushing to catch-up services, while the superstar was blacklisted by TV and radio outlets, had awards invitations revoked and projects axed.

“We talk a lot about cancellation these days, but this was something much darker and more insidious than that,” says writer/performer Paula Varjack, a Janet fan since childhood who's used the infamous ‘wardrobe malfunction’ incident as inspiration for her new stage production, Nine Sixteenths.

Taking it's title from the length of time Janet's reveal was visible (just nine sixteenths of a second), it’s an exuberant exploration of fame, power, sexuality, gender, race, influence and bias.

“Tt takes the Superbowl halftime show, and its subsequent aftermath, as a lens into representation (and lack of) in the media and within the structures of those that control and make decisions around it’ explains Paula, adding the production also touches on her own personal journey as a young fan to performer.