M.I.A. Middle Finger Super Bowl Scandal: 'Paper Planes' Singer Slams NFL as 'Completely Ridiculous' [VIDEO]
Controversial singer M.I.A. released a video Monday lashing out against the NFL, which is suing her for damages.
M.I.A. famously raised her middle finger to the camera during her performance at the 2012 Super Bowl Halftime Show and the NFL is suing her for $1.5 million over it. In response, the Paper Planes singer released a video in which she called the scandal "completely ridiculous."
M.I.A. said that the underage sexually provocative cheerleaders featured in the performance were actually more offensive than her middle finger.
"So now [the NFL is] scapegoating me into figuring out the goal posts on what is offensive in America," she argued. "Like, is my finger offensive or is an underage black girl with her legs wide open more offensive to the family audience?"
The 38-year-old singer was one of the guest singers during Madonna's Halftime Show performing Give Me All Your Luvin' with the pop icon and rapper NickI Minaj. The singer said the NFL was essentially claiming that female empowerment was more offensive than sexual exploitation of girls.
"They want me on my knees and say sorry so they can slap me on my wrists. And basically say it's okay for me to promote being sexually exploited as a female than to display female empowerment through being punk rock," she explained. "That is what it boils down to, and I'm being sued for it."
The NFL has not responded to M.I.A.'s claims and it is unknown how far the singer is willing to go against the organization.
Watch M.I.A.'s giving the camera the finger at the Super Bowl here:
