Justin Timberlake is seen fawning over a Janet Jackson poster years before THAT Super Bowl scandal - as shock Netflix doc Dirty Pop unearths cringe-worthy clip of the popstar as a teen

• e-mail

Unearthed footage of a teenage Justin Timberlake shows the star gushing over a poster of Janet Jackson, years before the pair made headlines across the world thanks to a now-infamous 2004 Super Bowl incident.

The clip features in the first episode of Netflix documentary, Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam, which charts the rise and fall of late music mogul Lou Pearlman - the disgraced businessman who created and managed boybands such as Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC and O-Town.

As Timberlake's bandmate Chris Kirkpatrick recalled the formation of 'NSYNC in 1995, he explained that the young musicians - including fellow members Joey Fatone, Lance Bass, and JC Chasez – had all been living together in a house Pearlman had rented when the band first formed.

In the clip, a young Timberlake, now 43, is then seen sitting on his bed and spinning a basketball on his finger before stopping to say: ‘What’s up? This is Justin, the latest member of 'NSYNC. If you haven’t heard about us yet, we are a new vocal group coming out.’

It then cuts to the star pointing to the poster of Jackson, now 58, on the wall as he states: ‘That’s my Janet Jackson poster because I love that woman.’

Unearthed footage of a teenage Justin Timberlake gushing over his poster of Janet Jackson on his bedroom wall is featured in Netflix docuseries, Dirty Pop: The Boyband Scam

Timberlake went on to accidentally expose the music icon's breast to 140 million viewers during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show

The image was taken by Yuri Elizondo in 1993 and sees Jackson showcasing her toned midriff in a high-neck, black leather crop top and light denim jeans, while she looks off into the distance with loose waves framing her face.

Ironically, Timberlake, 43, went on to have a lasting connection to Jackson after the he accidentally exposed the music icon's breast to 140 million viewers during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show.

Netflix viewers were quick to comment about the footage as one tweeted: 'Justin Timberlake with the Janet Jackson poster in his room growing up but ended up ripping that lady top off. Why.'

Another added: 'Not Justin Timberlake having a poster of Janet Jackson on his wall right when *NSYNC was formed.'

One fan stated: 'Lmao this new docu on the boy bands from the 90s ON NETFLIX , and they go to a part with young Justin Timberlake and he has a Janet Jackson poster on his bedroom wall …. AWKWARD'.

Another wrote: 'That Dirty Pop doco, first time ya see Justin Timberlake he points to a poster or Janet Jackson...... if only someone could have knocked him out before the super bowl.'

Timberlake had been enjoying the start of his solo career when he was been invited to be a surprise guest for Jackson's halftime show in 2004.  

During part of the choreography, he pulled off a part of Jackson's costume - which revealed her right breast adorned with a sun-shaped nipple shield.

The footage was filmed when the NSYNC had all been living together in a house that maganer Lou Pearlman had rented when the band first formed

Justin states: ‘That’s my Janet Jackson poster because I love that woman'. The image sees Janet in a high-neck, black leather crop top and light denim jeans

Years later,  the pair made headlines across the world. Timberlake released a belated apology in 2021 for times he 'benefited from a system that condones misogyny and racism'

The backlash had a striking effect on Janet's career in the years that followed, and the controversy has long overshadowed the rest of her performance on the night.

While Jackson was essentially blacklisted in the years that followed, Timberlake's own career was allowed continue unscathed.

The difference in how they were treated has lead to backlash from the public who felt Jackson had been unfairly treated, prompting Timberlake to release a belated apology in 2021.

He stated that he was 'deeply sorry for the times in my life where my actions contributed to the problem, where I spoke out of turn, or did not speak up for what was right.'

The Cry Me A River hitmaker added that he understood that he 'fell short in these moments and in many others and benefited from a system that condones misogyny and racism.'

The new Netflix documentary, Dirty Pop: The Boyband Scam, reveals dirty truth behind how Lou Pearlman truly funded some of the biggest pop acts in the '90s.

The docuseries interviews musicians to uncover the truth about how Lou Pearlman was imprisoned for conspiracy, money laundering, and false bankruptcy proceedings

Lou Pearlman poses with N'Sync stars Chris Kirkpatrick, JC Chasez, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone and Justin Timberlake seen at N.Y.P.D. pizza in Miami, 1996

While the talent manager was busy distracting the masses with a stream of noughties hits, he was running one of the longest running Ponzi schemes in American history, convincing banks, and individuals to invest into his bogus companies.

Pearlman also made millions from young musicians lacking knowledge about the inner workings of the music industry, allowing him to pay 'NSYNC just $35 (£27) per day while selling millions of records.

The tell-all docuseries recounts the fraudster's journey to dizzying heights, and his fall from grace that saw him sentenced to 25 years in prison for conspiracy, money laundering, and false bankruptcy proceedings. 

Backstreet Boys' AJ McLean and Howie Dorough recall their experience with Pearlman in the docuseries, as well as 'NSYNC's Chris Kirkpatrick.

Dirty Pop: The Boyband Scam is now available to stream on Netflix.