Janet Jackson Draws Thousands in L.A.
LOS ANGELES(AP) Janet Jackson, winding up a week of television interviews to promote her new album, drew about 3,000 fans Friday for a live broadcast of “On-Air with Ryan Seacrest.”
There were no wardrobe malfunctions though the show aired on the East Coast with a seven-second tape delay, just in case.
And there were no questions about her breast-baring performance during Super Bowl.
“We’re finally on this program today turning the page,” Seacrest assured Jackson.
Visibly grateful, Jackson just closed her eyes and nodded in appreciation.
The crowd filled a shopping center in the heart of Hollywood to see Jackson, who wore low-slung cargo pants with suspenders and a striped T-shirt that exposed her midriff. She sang two songs, taking the stage with dancers for one number, sitting on a stool for the other.
The singer also took a few questions from Seacrest and a couple of fans. All spared her queries about her Super Bowl halftime number with Justin Timberlake.
Jackson has said she is trying to put the incident behind her, but has had to field questions while promoting her album, “Damita Jo,” which debuted Tuesday.
She also skirted questions Friday about her love life, including whether a ring on her left hand signaled her engagement to rapper-producer boyfriend Jermaine Dupri. “It’s a gift,” Jackson said. “I’ve had my ups and downs with relationships. I’m very happy.”
Jackson and Timberlake’s duet sparked a round of recriminations and complaints about broadcast standards. Some fans Friday said the outrage was overblown.
“They made a very big deal of it, they blew it all out of proportion,” said Alicia Hardwick, 31, of Los Angeles.