theGrio

Back to the Top

Main menu

Skip to primary content
Skip to secondary content
  • Home
  • Entertainment
    • Music
    • The Dish
  • Health
    • Ask Dr. Ty
    • Black Men’s Health
    • Black Women and Breast Cancer
    • Back to School Health
  • Living
    • Travel and Leisure
    • Living Forward
    • Books
  • Politics
    • Perry on Politics
  • Sports
  • News
    • Good News
  • Opinion

News

Supreme Court won’t hear infamous ‘wardrobe malfunction’ appeal

by Associated Press | June 29, 2012 at 4:03 PM
Comments
Print
Janet Jackson arrives at the 2012 amfAR's Cinema Against AIDS during the 65th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Hotel Du Cap on May 24, 2012 in Cap D'Antibes, France. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

Janet Jackson arrives at the 2012 amfAR's Cinema Against AIDS during the 65th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Hotel Du Cap on May 24, 2012 in Cap D'Antibes, France. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

Related Posts

  • Supreme Court refuses to hear Texas death case
  • Supreme Court refuses to hear 'birther' argument again
  • Supreme Court rejects appeal from 'birther' leader
  • Supreme Court turns down Snipes' appeal
  • Supreme Court to take new look at voting rights law

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court decided Friday not to consider reinstating the government’s $550,000 fine on CBS for Janet Jackson’s infamous breast-baring “wardrobe malfunction” at the 2004 football Super Bowl.

The high court refused to hear an appeal from the Federal Communications Commission over the penalty.

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals twice had thrown out the fine. The second time came after the Supreme Court upheld the FCC’s policy threatening fines against even one-time uses of curse words on live television.

The appeals court said FCC’s policy of excusing fleeting instances of indecent words and images appeared to change without notice in March 2004, a month after Jackson’s halftime act. The judges said that made the agency’s action against CBS “arbitrary and capricious.”

But now, the FCC clearly has abandoned its exception for fleeting expletives, Chief Justice John Roberts said.

“It is now clear that the brevity of an indecent broadcast — be it word or image — cannot immunize it from FCC censure,” he said. “Any future ‘wardrobe malfunctions’ will not be protected on the ground relied on by the court below.”

In addition, Roberts said that calling it a “wardrobe malfunction” when Justin Timberlake ripped away part of Jackson’s bustier “strained the credulity of the public.”

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

  • Kristoff-John-Beating
    Next Story:

    Mother of teen beaten by teacher sues city for $5.5 million

  • Chris-Bosh-Withdraws
    Previous Story:

    Chris Bosh opts out of Olympics to rest, rehab injury

Filed in: Entertainment, News | Related Topics: FCC Fines CBS, Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake Wardrobe Malfunction, Superbowl Wardrobe Malfunction, Supreme Court Appeal, Wardrobe Malfunction
  • Learn about our User Panel

    Read More
  • New Stories on theGrio

    • Phil Jackson would pick Bill Russell to start a team with Phil Jackson would pick Bill Russell to start a team with
    • Mary J. Blige faces $3.4M tax lien Mary J. Blige faces $3.4M tax lien
    • Mother has son arrested for stealing her Pop-Tarts Mother has son arrested for stealing her Pop-Tarts
    • Morgan Freeman falls asleep during live interview Morgan Freeman falls asleep during live interview
    • ‘Rent is Too Damn High’ guy: ‘Anthony Weiner is a freak!’
    • 84-year-old NM woman indicted for drug trafficking
    • Anti-war protester shouts at Obama during speech
    • Obama defends his drone policy
  • What Your Friends Are Reading

  • More from theGrio

More Stories on theGrio

Top News

Politics

  • Michelle Obama (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

    First lady makes Forbes' 'Most Powerful Women'

  • GOP leaders say Obama impeachment talk premature

  • Desiree Rogers appointed to Choose Chicago Board

  • Obama pledges urgent aid to Oklahoma town

» Read More in Politics

Business

  • An elderly black couple. © poco_bw – Fotolia.com

    Black Americans retiring earlier, with less savings

  • BlackStartup.com seeks to uplift black businesses

  • Payday loans: A debt trap in disguise

  • Tiger Woods makes a comeback on the course, and in video game sales

» Read More in Business

Living

  • A black couple on vacation

    Memorial Day staycation hotspots!

  • Worst foods for high blood pressure

  • Autism Speaks launches new campaign for Latino, black parents

  • The breast cancer genetic test folks are talking about

» Read More in Living

Inspiration

  • Television journalist Robin Roberts poses with her Peabody at the 72nd Annual Peabody Awards at the Waldorf-Astoria on Monday, May 20, 2013 in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

    Robin Roberts to write memoir about illness

  • Charlotte remembers 1963 desegregation 'eat-in'

  • Tornado survivor saved by teacher

  • Obama speech makes Morehouse grads 'proud'

» Read More in Inspiration

Entertainment

  • Paris Hilton (Getty Images)

    Cash Money Records signs Paris Hilton?

  • Comedians pay tribute to 'Bill Cosby: Himself' 30 years later

  • Ray J a 'huge fan' of Kanye West

  • Darius Rucker responds to racist tweet from country fan

» Read More in Entertainment

News

  • Protestors march outside of the Bank of America building in the Loop Financial district calling on the banking giant to renegotiate interest rate swap deals with the Chicago Public Schools on May 7, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. The financially strapped Chicago public school system plans to close more than 50 schools at the end of this school year. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

    Chicago Board of Ed votes to close 50 schools

  • Funeral program for Malcolm Shabazz released

  • Geno Smith signs with Jay-Z's'Roc Nation Sports

  • Attorney: Donald Trump lied on stand

» Read More in News

Main menu

Skip to primary content
Skip to secondary content
  • Politics
  • Living
  • Video
  • Inspire
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • News
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with TheGrio
  • About
©2013 NBCUniversal
Powered by WordPress.com VIP