CBS asks celebs to cover up for Grammy broadcast

By Wesley Lowery

Feb. 7, 2013 12 AM PT

Celebrities walking the carpet in flashy, wild and revealing outfits has come to be an expected part of the award show experience, and the Grammys are no different.

But on the heels of a Super Bowl broadcast that included the game MVP dropping an f-bomb on national television, CBS executives have reached out to those attending music’s biggest night with a simple directive: cover up.

According to an emailed “Wardrobe Advisory” sent by the network’s Standards and Practices committee -- first obtained and reported by Deadline -- the network wants all breasts and buttocks to be covered.

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“Thong type costumes are problematic,” reads the email. “Please avoid exposing bare fleshy under curves of the buttocks and buttock crack. Bare sides or under curvature of the breasts is also problematic.”

CBS executives, seemingly concerned with the potential of wardrobe malfunctions, also caution against sheer see-through clothing, which could “possibly expose female breast nipples.”

In addition to the warnings against cleavage and “puffy bare skin exposure” near the genitals, the email also spells out -- in capital letters -- that obscenity on clothing is unacceptable. Clothing that contains writing in foreign languages will be required to be cleared, the email says.

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The email goes on to request that Grammy-goers avoid clothing that expresses support for organized causes, such as lapel pins.

Some of the most memorable Grammy outfits -- including Jennifer Lopez’s 2000 Grammy outfit, a nearly-see through green-blue dress slit directly down the front, as well as more recent outfits worn by artists such as Lady Gaga and Pink -- would certainly not make the cut based on the CBS guidelines.

CBS officials did not return calls for comment, but the network has been proactive and defensive about celebrity attire during its broadcasts in the past.

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After broadcasting the infamous Janet Jackson nipple slip during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show, CBS told Jackson and Justin Timberlake that they must apologize during that year’s Grammys in order to appear.

Jackson declined, while Timberlake delivered a short apology while onstage to accept the “Best Pop Vocal Performance” award.

The following day, the network was again under fire for performers’ attire.

CBS issued an apology after the closing performance by OutKast offended some Native Americans. When the rap duo took the stage to perform their hit song “Hey Ya,” they wore green war paint and feathers, which some Native American groups found offensive.

Will this weekend’s Grammys heed CBS’ warning? Stay tuned.

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