Super Bowl viewers question why Maroon 5’s Adam Levine could show nipples but not Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson's career suffered after Justin Timberlake ripped her costume and exposed her breast for less than half a second during their infamous 2004 performance

Maroon 5’s performance at the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday has people talking for all the wrong reasons.

Along with a decidedly negative reaction to the performance, which was branded “boring” and “lacklustre” by critics, frontman Adam Levine has been lambasted for taking his shirt off for no apparent reason.

Many audience members took issue due to the Super Bowl’s controversial history that saw the NFL and broadcaster CBS have a meltdown when Janet Jackson’s nipple was accidentally broadcast for less than half a second in 2004, during her performance with Justin Timberlake.

At the halftime show this year, Levine had not one, but two nipples on proud display, and many are questioning why there appears to be a different set of rules depending on which artist is on stage.

“I guess white guy nipples are cool” on CBS,” Leslie Mac commented.

Journalist Vivian Ho asked: “How come Adam Levine gets to show his nipples and Janet Jackson doesn’t.”

“Super Bowl halftime nipple rules feel inconsistent,” TV host Katie Nolan agreed.

Levine responded to backlash over the Maroon 5 performance on Instagram, commenting: “We thank the universe for making our dreams possibke. And we thank our critics for always pushing us to do better.”

A review in The Independent said the performance was “lacklustre” and that “not even early 2000s nostalgia could salvage [it]”.