Justin Timberlake Will Headline Halftime of Super Bowl LII
Justin Timberlake announced today (Oct. 22) that he will be headlining the Super Bowl LII Halftime Show in 2018. The superstar broke the news via Twitter with a nod to his longtime friend Jimmy Fallon.
"I DO have the time," Timberlake tweeted. "Half the time... #PepsiHalftime #SBLII @Pepsi@NFL @JimmyFallon @FallonTonight"
Pepsi also confirmed the news.
"It's official: @jtimberlake is taking the #PepsiHalftime stage at #SBLII Tune into #SNF tonight for the full scoop & we'll see you on Feb 4!," Pepsi tweeted.
Last month, there had been talk of JAY-Z being offered to headline the halftime show at Super Bowl LI only to decline; but those rumors were never verified.
Of course, Timberlake was featured in the most infamous moment in Super Bowl Halftime history. Justin performed with Janet Jackson at the 2004 Super Bowl, and exposed her pasty-covered breast during their performance of "Rock Your Body." The moment became the most TiVoed in television history and would later be given credit for the birth of YouTube.
The fallout was swift and severe; Janet was banned from performing at the Super Bowl and unofficially blacklisted from MTV, who'd presented the Halftime Show. Jackson was also forced to give a video apology. Timberlake didn't face the brunt of the backlash; claiming that he didn't want to be part of a "stunt" and making a crack about the furor at the Grammys just two weeks later. Jackson was banned from the awards show.
But hey—it looks like that's all water under the proverbial bridge...for Justin.
Watch Beyoncé's 2016 Super Bowl Halftime Show:
Watch Prince's 2007 Super Bowl Halftime Show: