This time, gesture malfunction by M.I.A.

Madonna, center, performs with Nicki Minaj, left, and M.I.A. during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Madonna, center, performs with Nicki Minaj, left, and M.I.A. during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) (AP)
Associated Press
Posted: February 06, 2012

For all the pomp and excess of Madonna's Super Bowl halftime extravaganza, a single extended middle finger by guest singer M.I.A. is likely to be the most remembered piece of the show.

The gesture, accompanied by a barely disguised expletive, came during a performance of Madonna's new single, "Give Me All Your Luvin'." At the end of her lines, M.I.A. appeared to sing "I don't give a [expletive]," although it was hard to hear clearly.

The incident was reminiscent of Janet Jackson's infamous "wardrobe malfunction" on CBS eight years ago. The brief exposure of Jackson's nipple during the 2004 halftime show raised a storm of controversy.

The Super Bowl, shown on NBC this year, is routinely viewed by more than 100 million people.

"We apologize for the inappropriate gesture that aired during halftime," NBC spokesman Christopher McCloskey said. "It was a spontaneous gesture that our delay system caught late."

The screen briefly went blurred after M.I.A.'s gesture in what was a late attempt - by less than a second - to cut out the camera shot.

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