M.I.A blames 'nerves' and 'adrenaline' for middle-finger malfunction

London, Feb 7 (ANI): British rapper M.I.A has reportedly held her "nerves" and "adrenaline" responsible for flipping her middle finger during the half time performance at the Super Bowl on Sunday.

The singer, who is best known for the hit song 'Paper Planes', pulled the rude gesture and swore into the camera during her rap solo as over 100 million fans around the world watched the performance.

While all eyes were on Madonna for a scandalous moment, the broadcasters were caught by surprise by the 36-year-old rapper and scrambled to obscure the gesture in time.

With one foot up on the podium, M.I.A rapped: "I don't give a s***" and pulled the finger during the live performance of Madonna's new song, 'Give Me All Your Luvin', alongside the pop queen and fellow rapper Nicki Minaj.

The screen briefly went blurred in what seemed like a late attempt to cut out the camera shot and Madonna, who at this point was lying on her back behind the rapper, appeared blissfully unaware of the controversial move.

A member of M.I.A.'s camp claimed the rapper was struck with "a case of adrenaline and nerves."

"She wasn't thinking," the Daily Mail quoted the source as saying.

"It wasn't any kind of statement.

"She was caught in the moment and she's incredibly sorry," the source said.

The NFL, which produces the show, and the broadcaster, NBC, both apologised immediately but blamed each other for the incident.

"There was a failure in NBC's delay system," Brian McCarthy, the league's vice president of communications said.

"The obscene gesture in the performance was completely inappropriate, very disappointing, and we apologize to our fans," McCarthy said.

Meanwhile NBC's spokesperson countered McCarthy's comments.

"We apologize for the inappropriate gesture that aired during half-time," spokesman Christopher McCloskey said.

"It was a spontaneous gesture that our delay system caught late.

"The NFL hired the talent and produced the half-time show.

"Our system was late to obscure the inappropriate gesture and we apologize to our viewers.'

However, M.I.A.'s publicists at Interscope have not commented as yet.

According to TMZ.com, sources say that M.I.A may end up paying any fines imposed in the wake of the drama.

She is said to have signed a contract with the NFL for the halftime performance in which she agreed to indemnify the NFL for any money it might be forced to pay if the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) comes down on the NBC. (ANI)