Adam Levine and Janet Jackson's nipples deserve equal treatment from the FCC | Commentary
By Shannon Green - Orlando Sentinel
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I’m glad Adam Levine loved his nipples enough to share them with the world Sunday night during Super Bowl LIII.
Seriously, everyone should feel so confident about his or her body. That aside, I’m wondering if the Federal Communications Commission is going to reward CBS with the same hefty fine for Levine’s intentionally exposed nipples as the commission did for Janet Jackson’s unintentional slip courtesy of Justin Timberlake 15 years ago?
It’s not a silly question. In fact, several people wondered the same thing out loud on social media prompting engagement stories from CNN, People Magazine and Mashable.
Personally, I’m not offended by Levine’s bare chest that offered an entire tattoo advertisement for California.
In fact, I’m more offended by the refs who missed the pass interference call for the New Orleans Saints that in part forced us to watch one of — if not — the most boring Super Bowls of all time. There were no touchdowns for three quarters. Don’t believe the lies that great defense invites more viewership.
But I digress.
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I don’t care about Levine’s nips. I also didn’t care about Jackson’s — who was wearing a full body black leather catsuit, by-the-way, before Timberlake exposed her. Jackson was never invited by the NFL to perform again surely at the request of CBS. Her career suffered greatly and she was deemed some kind of social pariah while Timberlake was able to return to the stage and flourish.
But I do care about what’s just and fair. If the FCC hit CBS in the gut for Jackson’s slip, then they should hit CBS even worse for Levine’s proud exposure. Or, if the FCC has culturally evolved to realize nipples don’t cause temporary blindness, then some kind of donation of the same amount should be given to a cause of Jackson’s selection along with an apology.
