NBC has cut a scene from an upcoming episode in which an elderly patient's chest was exposed despite the fact that the network has said the scene was "appropriate and in context".
In a statement NBC said: "The atmosphere created by this week's events has made it too difficult for many of our affiliates to air this shot."
NBC, one of the big four US television networks, said it could not ignore the events and the public furore, which followed Jackson's appearance with Justin Timberlake at the Super Bowl.
Jackson has since apologised for her planned flash of breast, which is being investigated by the FCC for televised indecency. Michael Powell, the FCC chairman, has called her performance nothing less than "onstage copulation" as America works itself into a lather over the incident.
Producers of 'ER' have slammed NBC for overreacting. Executive producer John Wells has called the censorship unnecessary, pointing out that the two events were in no way "comparable". He said viewers were capable of making up their own minds.
Wells said the knee-jerk reaction was one of the reasons that viewers were abandoning the networks in favour of hit cable station HBO, which is behind hit shows 'Sex in the City', 'The Sopranos' and 'Six Feet Under', all of which regularly feature nudity and strong language.
"This type of network behaviour is one of the primary reasons that so many of today's producers and viewers are increasingly turning to HBO and other cable outlets that do not censor responsible storytelling," Wells said.
As the storm continues to blow over Jackson's breast, it looks as if the singer will now pull out of presenting Sunday's Grammy awards at which she would have presented an award to Timberlake.
Steven Huvane, Jackson's publicist, told CNN: "We don't think she's going to go."
Timberlake has said that the breast was as much a surprise to him as anyone else. He has said he expected Jackson to be wearing a bra.
"I do understand that there were a lot of people that were completely offended by what happened, including my own family. I mean, I was completely shocked and appalled, and all I could say was 'oh my God, oh my God'," Timberlake told his home town station KCBS.
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