M.I.A. at the half: Read her flip

EIGHT YEARS after Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction, some unexpected controversy returned to the Super Bowl halftime show.

M.I.A., appearing with Madonna and Nicki Minaj to perform "Give Me All Your Luvin'," flipped the middle finger to a camera before a cutaway. The song contains an inappropriate word, which she did not appear to say, although it was difficult to hear her clearly.

NBC went to a blurred wide view of the stage in an effort to cut out the shot, but it was too late as M.I.A.'s middle-finger gesture could be seen.

"The NFL hired the talent and produced the halftime show," NBC spokesman Chris McCloskey said in a statement. "Our system was late to obscure the inappropriate gesture and we apologize to our viewers."

"There was a failure in NBC's delay system," NFL vice president Brian McCarthy said in a statement. "The obscene gesture in the performance was completely inappropriate, very disappointing, and we apologize to our fans."

Madonna had promised no controversy or wardrobe malfunctions last week.

M.I.A. was a two-time Grammy nominee in 2009 and is best known for her hit song, "Paper Planes." .