Janet Jackson Sunbathing Footage Remains On Internet

By Ian Rice
Arts and Lifestyle Editor

A video clip showing singer/actress Janet Jackson sunbathing sans-clothing has been circulating on the Internet for the last several days, despite her representatives' best efforts to have it removed. The 40-second paparazzi video, shot from bushes near Jackson's outdoor tanning table, features clear footage of Jackson's entire naked person as she applies suntan lotion and enjoys the music playing on a nearby stereo.

Jackson's lawyers were reportedly attempting to have the video taken off the Internet and for the time being it appears that some of their efforts have been paying off. On one site, a freeze-frame from the footage was still displayed as late as this past Thursday, but the video link had been disabled. Instead of X-rated footage of the sexy star, hopeful downloaders were instead greeted with the message: "removed because lawsuits aren't really my thing."

Both the exact source of the video and the time at which it was shot remain unclear. However, photos taken at the same time popped up online as early as last year, negating any assumption that the video footage is recent.

Jackson's attempts to get the video back under wraps most likely comes from the desire to stay out of the controversial limelight, which the star has found herself in recently. Jackson found herself in the middle of a gigantic controversy when duet partner Justin Timberlake revealed her right breast — the now infamous "wardrobe malfunction" — at the end of their set during the halftime show of the 2004 Super Bowl. The event, which was seen nationally by millions of viewers, caused a tremendous public outcry and much more scrutiny on broacasters from the FCC.

No word yet on what legal action will be pursued should the source of the video be discovered.