M.I.A. Versus The NFL: The Battle Rages On

M.I.A. caused a big old fuss when she flipped her middle finger at the camera while performing alongside Madonna for the Superbowl halftime show. Such a fuss, in fact, that the NFL launched legal action against the UK-based singer and rapper, looking to sue her to the tune of $1.5 million, according to a report from The Hollywood Reporter.

The league reportedly filed the suit in March of last year, claiming that the gesture (which was made while she mouthed the words “I don't give a shit”) was a breach of her performance contract, which tarnished the league's goodwill and reputation, and the battle is said to have been waging secretly ever since. M.I.A. (Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam) and her lawyer Howard King aren't too pleased about this and have now made their grievances very public.

"She is going to go public with an explanation of how ridiculous it was for the NFL and its fans to devote such furor to this incident, while ignoring the genocide occurring in her home country and several other countries, topics she frequently speaks to," King says.

She is looking to her fans to show that the NFL isn't the squeaky clean organisation they claim to be, as well.

“We encourage people to submit their examples of how the actions of the NFL, its stars, coaches, advertisers, broadcasters, team doctors and owners have damaged or destroyed any vestiges of any reputation for wholesomeness ever enjoyed by the NFL,” King has announced.

“These submissions, which we plan to use to bolster M.I.A's defense, will help balance the playing field, as they very well could eliminate the burden of undertaking a formal survey of the history of unwholesome behavior, can be made to the M.I.A defense team by email to nfl@khpblaw.com.”

The NFL haven't been very pleased with the artist's actions over the past 18 months, taking issue with her “challenging the arbitration clause in the agreement, failing to pay her share of the costs of arbitration, failing to attend mediation, failing to consummate a settlement-in-principle achieved, using video clips of her Super Bowl performance to promote her business endeavors and 'refus[ing] to take responsibility or apologize for her actions which were broadcast worldwide.'”

King said he had hoped for the two parties to reach a settlement, but couldn't see eye to eye enough to make it happen.

“No settlement was implemented, and the NFL has resumed active pursuit of a trial through the Proskauer firm,” King told THR. “Until now, we had reluctantly remained quiet in the hopes of not becoming subject to the whims of 28 rich NFL owners who wanted to crush this brown, outspoken young lady, especially since they are making her life miserable for the cost of a 30-second spot in one of this weekend's secondary games.

"But ultimately, we could not be forced into the type of public apology demanded by the NFL.”