Super Bowl Halftime Show 2012: Middle Finger Mistake May Cost MIA

M.I.A. joined Madonna on stage at the 2012 Super Bowl halftime show and decided to show off some of her swagger by flipping off the camera. That gesture may cost her an unbelievable sum. 

TMZ reports M.I.A. will have to pay any and all fines imposed on NBC as a result of her overzealous middle finger taunt on national TV. 

What It Means

The report cites sources that states the NFL has indemnified NBC, and the league has gone a long way to make sure that another Janet Jackson scenario wouldn't cost them a hefty fine. 

The NFL, in their legal genius, gave M.I.A. a contract that indemnifies the NFL for any money it might be forced to pay if the FCC does come down with a fine as a result of their actions. 

It pays to read the fine print, because M.I.A. will now have to handle any fine for what has become the most talked about portion of Sunday's halftime show. 

What's Next?

It is now a wait and see as to what the FCC deems as fine-worthy, and for how much. The name that is being readily bandied about is that of Janet Jackson and her wardrobe malfunction. 

That is precisely the impetus for this clause in the performer's contract. At that time, CBS was hit with a $550,000 FCC fine that was later thrown out in federal appeals court. 

ABC News cites a source that claims there was no animosity behind her actions. Here is what Shiela Marikar writes for ABC News. 

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A source close to the rapper told ABC News Radio that her actions were caused by "adrenaline and nerves,"  a result of getting "caught up in the moment," and "weren't an attempt to make any kind of statement."

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I hardly think the FCC will come down as hard on M.I.A. for an action that very well could have been nothing more than nerves and excitement. 

Entertainers improvise in the moment, and sometimes that goes awry. 

This is hardly the Jackson situation that reeked of planning. That being said, there is no telling what goes through the minds of those in power and how they may handle this articular situation. 

All we can say is start saving up, because you may be hit with a hefty bill soon enough, M.I.A.

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