Janet Jackson has recalled suffering a serious wardrobe malfunction in front of Queen Elizabeth II.
Reflecting on some of her best-ever looks during an interview for British Vogue’s Life in Looks series, the pop icon pinpointed the black military-style outfit she wore to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame back in 1990.
After noting the outfit was inspired by the costumes in the 1966 dystopian drama Fahrenheit 451, Janet recounted how she donned a similar ensemble while performing for the British monarch around the same time in the early ’90s.
“Funny story about this outfit: I was performing for the Queen of England, and we were doing Rhythm Nation. Sure enough, soon as I squatted, my pants split right in my booty crack,” she remembered. “I couldn’t believe it happened. I thought, ‘Oh my God.’ And then I started feeling air back there, so I knew it had really happened.”
Keen to remain professional, Janet changed the choreography in the moment.
“So, I never turned my back on her, which some of the choreography was supposed to. I just faced forward,” the 58-year-old continued, before wondering, “Can you imagine if I just would’ve flashed her for just like a hot second?”
Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96 in 2022.
Janet also famously suffered a wardrobe malfunction at the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show in 2004, where her right breast, adorned with a nipple shield, was exposed by Justin Timberlake during their routine.
