MIA caused a bit of controversy, like the Bad Girl she is, last night when she flipped a bird for the world to see during her halftime performance with Madonna and Nicki Minaj at the Superbowl.The controversial star has yet to comment on the incident, but the NFL and NBC have both issued apologies. Trying to prevent those fines from coming, I suppose.
The 36-year-old rapper (real name: Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam) flipped her middle finger as she performed backup for Madonna, 53, alongside Nicki Minaj for the Material Girl’s new song “Give Me All You Luvin’.”
The British/Sri Lankan star also uttered a profanity (“I don’t give a s***”) but the expletive wasn’t heard on the live broadcast.
The NFL and NBC alike immediately apologized for the gaffe, which harkened back to Janet Jackson’s infamous nip-slip at the Super Bowl alongside Justin Timberlake 8 years ago.
“The obscene gesture in the performance was completely inappropriate, very disappointing and we apologize to our fans,” an NFL spokesman said.
Added NBC: “We apologize for the inappropriate gesture that aired during halftime. It was a spontaneous gesture that our delay system caught late.”
It’s obvious that MIA didn’t do this while rehearsing, but NBC should’ve been prepared for anything to happen because they saw the $500,000 fine dished out to CBS over the Janet Jackson nipple slip. Parents.org share this sentiment.
The Parents Television Council has released a statement on the incident … saying, “It is unfortunate that a spectacular sporting event was overshadowed once again by broadcasting the selfish acts of a desperate performer.”
The PTC claims NBC and the NFL knew full well what could happen … especially because they chose a lineup filled with “performers who have based their careers on shock profanity and titillation.”
The PTC also rips NBC for failing to block the image from broadcast … especially since Janet Jackson’s nipplegate incident on CBS 8 years ago.
The group is NOT asking for an apology — insisting one would simply “[ring] hollow after yet another slap in the face to families.”
Instead, the group wants ACTION — saying, “Either the NFL and NBC will take immediate steps to hold those accountable for this offensive material in front of a hundred million Americans, or they will feebly sit back and do nothing
Girl. Smh. Congrats on the publicity though.