<p id=”par-1_74″>The 2004 <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/super-bowl/?swcfpc=1″>Super Bowl</a> Halftime Show is one of the most iconic moments of the early aughts. Featuring Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, P. Diddy, Nelly, Kid Rock, and Jessica Simpson, the NFL’s performance could not have brought together a more 2000s gang of music artists to rock Houston’s Reliant Stadium. When you recall that this <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/50-cent-said-jay-z-want-performing-super-bowl.html/”>Super Bowl Halftime Show</a> produced one of the most <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/tom-brady-said-janet-jacksons-super-bowl-wardrobe-malfunction-probably-good-thing-nfl.html/?swcfpc=1″>controversial moments in TV history,</a> you’ll understand why Sean “Diddy” Combs became a total afterthought.</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-1″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2004-Super-Bowl-Halftime-Show-Sean-Diddy-Combs-Janet-Jackson-Nelly-Kid-Rock.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Posing together in front of cameras, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, Janet Jackson, Nelly, and Kid Rock promote the 2004 Super Bowl Halftime Show” class=”wp-image-3772265″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, Janet Jackson, Nelly, and Kid Rock promote the 2004 Super Bowl Halftime Show | KMazur/WireImage</figcaption></figure>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-janet-jackson-and-justin-timberlake-s-nipplegate-at-the-2004-super-bowl-halftime-show”>Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake’s ‘Nipplegate’ at the 2004 Super Bowl Halftime Show</h2>
<p id=”par-2_65″>On February 1, 2004, 89.8 million viewers tuned in to watch Tom Brady’s New England Patriots defeat the Carolina Panthers, 32–29, concluding with a thrilling last-second field goal by Adam Vinatieri. Despite the game being one of the <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/usher-wont-get-paid-super-bowl-halftime-performance.html/?swcfpc=1″>most exciting Super Bowls</a> in history, Jackson and Timberlake managed to upstage the competitors when the former NSYNC vocalist exposed Jackson’s right breast on live television. </p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-2″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2004-Super-Bowl-Halftime-Show-Janet-Jackson-Justin-Timberlake.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Singers Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake perform during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXVIII” class=”wp-image-3772264″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake during the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show on February 1, 2004 | Frank Micelotta/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-3_61″>While performing “Rock Your Body,” Timberlake pulled off part of Jackson’s costume, <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/janet-jackson-cbs-tried-to-make-amends-for-super-bowl-nipple-gate-at-2023-grammys-and-failed.html/”>revealing her right breast</a> adorned with a nipple shield. The incident, which Jackson later called a wardrobe malfunction, sparked massive backlash, FCC fines, and changed live TV regulations forever. However, the “All for You” songstress bore the brunt of the criticism. Jackson faced industry blacklisting while Timberlake’s career thrived.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-sean-diddy-combs-performed-for-less-than-60-seconds-at-super-bowl-xxxviii”>Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs performed for less than 60 seconds at Super Bowl XXXVIII </h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-3″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2004-Super-Bowl-Halftime-Show-Sean-Diddy-Combs-Nelly.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Rappers Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs and Nelly perform during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXVIII” class=”wp-image-3772267″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs and Nelly perform during the 2004 Super Bowl Halftime Show in Houston | Elsa/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-4_60″>In addition to Jackson and Timberlake concluding the 2004 Super Bowl Halftime Show with an ahead-of-its-time “free the nipple” moment, several other <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/rihannas-super-bowl-halftime-show-choreographer-choreographed-jennifer-lopezs-halftime-show.html/?swcfpc=1″>music artists performed their biggest hits</a>. Jessica Simpson kicked off the concert with a brief introduction, yelling, “Houston, choose to party!” Jackson performed “All for You,” and Nelly rapped “Hot in Herre” while cheerleaders removed their clothing. </p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-4″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2004-Super-Bowl-Halftime-Show-Sean-Diddy-Combs-Kid-Rock.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Music artists Kid Rock and Sean Diddy Combs smile together after the 2004 Super Bowl” class=”wp-image-3772266″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Kid Rock and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs after their Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime Show performance at Reliant Stadium | KMazur/WireImage</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-5_84″>Kid Rock performed “Bawitdaba” and “Cowboy” while wearing an American flag with a slit in the middle as a poncho. (He later received criticism from Veterans of Foreign Wars for “desecrating” the flag.) Between these attention-grabbing moments — all produced by MTV — <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/the-fall-of-diddy-creators-describe-palpable-fear-gripped-those-spoke-against-sean-combs.html/”>Sean “Diddy” Combs</a> took to the stage. Then known as P. Diddy, he rapped “Bad Boys for Life” for approximately 30 seconds before Nelly performed. Later, he briefly rapped part of Notorious B.I.G.’s “Mo Money Mo Problems” for fewer than 30 seconds.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-combs-is-still-upset-years-after-the-2004-super-bowl-halftime-show”>Combs is ‘still upset’ years after the 2004 Super Bowl Halftime Show</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-5″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2004-Super-Bowl-Halftime-Show-Sean-Diddy-Combs.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs talks to the media at a press conference for the half-time show for Super Bowl XXXVIII” class=”wp-image-3772268″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Singer/producer Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs with MTV’s Damien Fahey and Vanessa Minnillo at a press conference for the Super Bowl XXXVIII half-time show | Frank Micelotta/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-6_72″>In 2018, Combs appeared on <em><a href=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPuULksBPcI” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Watch What Happens Live</a> </em>with Andy Cohen. The beloved Bravo host asked the rapper about Timberlake’s then-upcoming second Super Bowl performance, which took place at Super Bowl LII. “You performed at that infamous Super Bowl with Justin Timberlake and Janet during the wardrobe malfunction,” Cohen stated. “What are your thoughts on Justin performing at the Super Bowl again? Do you think Janet will make a surprise appearance?”</p>
<p id=”par-7_77″>Combs did not skip a beat, stating, “First of all, I wanna say that I’m still upset about that Super Bowl because I put, like, six months of my life into the preparations, and then nobody knew I performed.” He continued, “Ya’ll don’t even know I <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/7-super-bowl-lix-questions-answered-kickoff-halftime-show-performers.html/”>performed at that Super Bowl</a>! You know what I mean?” Cohen laughed and said, “I gotta tell you something, I was surprised when I heard. I was like, ‘Really? He did?’”</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-6″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Sean-Diddy-Combs-2004-Super-Bowl-Halftime-Show.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Rapper Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs performs during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXVIII” class=”wp-image-3772270″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs during the 2004 Super Bowl Halftime Show at Reliant Stadium | KMazur/WireImage</figcaption></figure>
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<p id=”par-8_44″>Less than 60 seconds of Diddy versus Nipplegate? We’re not surprised no one remembers the rapper. <a href=”https://pagesix.com/2018/01/22/diddy-is-still-upset-nobody-remembers-his-super-bowl-performance/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Page Six</a> checked in with Combs after his comments on <em>WWHL</em>. His rep told the news outlet, “He was joking. He’s not upset or anything. He was just joking.”</p>
<p id=”par-9_15″><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/sean-diddy-combs-ex-knew-lied-apology-video-man-sick.html/?swcfpc=1″>Combs is currently awaiting</a> trial regarding charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation for prostitution.</p>