Justin Timberlake nixed ideas of having Janet Jackson join him onstage to make up for the “Nipplegate” fiasco 14 years ago, and also nixed having his old band N’Sync join him. But what he did consider was a hologram of Prince, a year after he died. Fans were not happy.
Justin Timberlake has now scrapped the idea of the Prince hologram after public outcry. Originally planned as a homage to the rock legend, who has connections to the town of Minneapolis, home of the Vikings.
But friend Sheila E. dispelled rumors after the rocker saw the backlash he received over the notion.
Family, I spoke w/Justin 2nite and he shared heartfelt words of respect for Prince & the Purple fans. I look 4wrd 2 seeing what I’m sure is going 2 be a spectacular halftime show. There is no hologram. 🙏🏽💋 pic.twitter.com/mhVXBfBa1B
— SheilaEdrummer (@SheilaEdrummer) February 4, 2018
Thankfully, Prince can rest in peace. The artist himself shot down the idea in a 1998 interview in Guitar World.
"“That’s the most demonic thing imaginable,” Prince said at the time. “Everything is as it is, and it should be. If I was meant to jam with Duke Ellington, we would have lived in the same age. That whole virtual reality thing … it really is demonic. And I am not a demon. Also, what they did with that Beatles song [‘Free As a Bird’], manipulating John Lennon’s voice to have him singing from across the grave … that’ll never happen to me. To prevent that kind of thing from happening is another reason why I want artistic control.”"
What does that mean for the halftime show? Fans keep getting disappointed by news about Timberlake’s show. He shot down rumors of making amends with Janet Jackson for “Nipplegate,” sparking the furious hashtag #JusticeForJanet and said no about reuniting with his old boy band N’Sync.
Who knows? Maybe Timberlake will have the last laugh after all and put on one hell of a show despite the poor reviews for his new folksy album and being compared to Lady Gaga’s epic performance last year—the best halftime show I’ve ever seen.
Next: Top 25 Super Bowl moments of all-time
Secret footage obtained by TMZ says there will be a mesmerizing fireworks show. I guess we’ll all have to tune in and see if it will be something to “rock your body” or “cry me a river.”
Super Bowl halftime show will likely air around 8 p.m. ET on NBC.