Always the rebel, M.I.A. undoubtedly thought the NFL wouldn't take exception when she flashed her middle finger during Madonna's halftime show at the 2012 Super Bowl. She thought wrong.
The league is suing her for $16.6 million for tarnishing their reputation. M.I.A. appeared with Madonna and Nicki Minaj for two minutes during a performance of "Give Me All Your Luvin'." After a brief solo, she sneakily flipped the bird to millions watching at home and in bars. However, it was hardly visible. The photo above and the clip below (cue to seven-minute mark) show conclusively that M.I.A. did extend her middle finger upwards. It slipped past censors because the show was not on a five-second delay.
M.I.A.'s legal team contends that her finger-flip was no worse that Michael Jackson's crotch grab in 1993 or Prince's phallic display with his guitar in 2007. Of course, the most famous Super Bowl halftime stunt was "Nipplegate" when Justin Timberlake exposed Janet Jackson's breast in 2004.
The Sri Lankan-born singer's last album, Matangi, was released in November.
