My Music, My Way: M.I.A.'s Super Bowl Middle Finger: Fans Weigh In

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

M.I.A.'s Super Bowl Middle Finger: Fans Weigh In

'She should be looking for more positive publicity,' one fan tells MTV News.
By Uptin Saiidi

M.I.A. performs at the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

NEW YORK — M.I.A. made headlines during Madonna's Super Bowl halftime show Sunday when she flipped off the cameras ... and the 100 million-plus viewers tuning in at home. It was reported Tuesday that the controversial MC might be responsible for any FCC fines incurred because of her middle finger.

But who should be held responsible? And why did she do it in the first place? MTV News ventured to Times Square — where the New York Giants' Super Bowl victory was celebrated earlier in the day with a parade — to see what people thought of M.I.A.'s flip decision.

"It was not good for her, because she's still a young and up-and-coming artist, so she should be looking for more positive publicity," Valon Jaloshey, 22, told MTV News. "That's not the way to get it when you're giving the middle finger at the biggest performance of your life."

Maureen Kelley, 26, wasn't surprised by the artist's action but thinks her timing was inappropriate. "It's definitely very M.I.A. to have done that," Kelley said. "She probably shouldn't have done it at the Super Bowl." Kelley does have some advice for dealing with a potential fine: "Maybe she could just pretend that she was wiggling her fingers, I don't know."

M.I.A.'s fellow halftime performer Cee Lo Green, meanwhile, exclusively told MTV News late Monday that he knew nothing about the flip-off until the game was long over. "Honestly, I did not hear anything about it," he said. "There was no talk about it in the dressing room afterwards and we didn't stay long after the performance, because it was honestly a relief we had had it done. So I didn't hear anything until I got up to do the morning show, 'Today.' And television is a very sensitive [thing]."

What did you think of M.I.A.'s halftime flip-off? Let us know in the comments!

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