Despite all the thought, planning and prep work that goes into making a superstar red carpet or stage ready, sometimes accidents happen. Be it a strap that breaks or a top that slips down, these celebrity wardrobe malfunctions are often big news when they occur. From Janet Jackson’s much-discussed mishap at Super Bowl XXXVIII to Beyoncé’s slight yet possibly painful malfunction at the 2025 Grammy Awards, these accidents prove that celebrities find a way to make sure the show goes on.
Beyoncé
Beyoncé made history at the 2025 Grammy Awards by winning both Album of the Year and Best Country Album. The superstar is the fourth Black woman to ever take home the Album of the Year award and the first Black women to ever win Best Country Album. She looked absolutely stunning on the night of her big wins. But a slight wardrobe malfunction added an unexpected twist to her first acceptance speech. While on stage for Best Country Album, the underwire of Beyoncé’s sequin dress could be seen peaking out of the bust area.
Fans on reddit remarked at how painful the malfunction looked as the wires appeared to dig into the singer’s skin. On Threads, a user with an eagle eye, noticed Jay-Z tried to warn his wife about the mishap. He seemingly whispered, “fix your dress,” to her before she went on stage. Thankfully Beyoncé showed no signs of trouble while behind the mic. By the time she took the stage to accept Album of the Year, the malfunction was fixed.
Cardi B
When Cardi B hit the Bonnaroo stage in 2019 she gave fans an electrifying performance. That is until her rhinestone jumpsuit couldn’t keep up. Mid-set, the outfit ripped in an unfortunate place, but Cardi, being Cardi, handled it like a queen. Instead of panicking, she slipped into a fluffy white bathrobe and kept the show going. The rapper proved she’s truly an unbothered icon. Fans cheered her on as she made the robe look couture.
Glorilla
GloRilla was a striking example of musical prowess and resilience at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards. During her dynamic performance, a celebrity wardrobe malfunction threatened to steal the spotlight. As she transitioned into her hit “TGIF,” her top became unfastened. Not one to be thrown off her A-game, GloRilla continued her performance. She held her top with one arm while delivering her verses. A quick acting backup dancer assisted the rapper in rectifying the situation, securing the top and allowing the show to go on.
Nicki Minaj
During a 2011 live performance on Good Morning America in New York’s Central Park, Nicki Minaj experienced a celebrity wardrobe malfunction. Her low-cut top slipped, briefly exposing her. Despite the incident, Minaj continued her performance with professionalism. ABC issued an apology. The network stated that although a five-second delay was in place, the live East Coast feed included the unintended exposure. Executives promised that the images were removed from later broadcasts in other time zones. Minaj also apologized, clarifying that the incident was accidental and not a publicity stunt.
Just a few years later, Minaj again had to improvise when another wardrobe malfunction struck. This time it was at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards. Minaj recounted the experience on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” She explained that as she was switching costumes from a green getup to an all black dress, disaster struck.
“Right before it was time for me to walk out, they went to zip it up and right there I thought I died,” Minaj told DeGeneres.
The zipper didn’t work on Minaj’s dress. She had no choice but to take the stage with Ariana Grande and Jessie J to perform their hit song “Bang Bang.” Minaj held her dress closed during the entire performance.
Janet Jackson
You can’t really talk celebrity wardrobe malfunctions without mentioning Janet Jackson. In 2004 the iconic performer took to the Super Bowl XXXVIII’s halftime stage with Justin Timberlake. During the show, Timberlake tore away part of Jackson’s costume, briefly exposing her. Both artist addressed the wardrobe malfunction quickly. Jackson apologized. She explained the plan was for Timberlake to remove a bustier to reveal a red lace bra but things didn’t go as planned.
The aftermath of the incident was intense to say the least. Jackson faced significant backlash and some blacklisting from media outlets. However, Timberlakes career seemed to continue to soar despite the malfunction. The double standard has sparked discussions about race and gender dynamics in the entertainment industry.
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey’s celebrity wardrobe malfunction at Moët & Chandon’s 2022 holiday celebration proved she’s the queen of composure. While dazzling the crowd in a black slip dress by Jonathan Simkhai, the chain-link strap suddenly snapped. Unfazed, Carey continued performing, even jokingly improvising lyrics about the mishap. Her glam team rushed on stage to secure the dress, ensuring the show went on seamlessly. Later, she playfully addressed the incident on social media, calling it a “very, very close” call.