Madonna “wasn’t impressed” with M.I.A’s obscene Super Bowl stage stunt.
The Queen of Pop was joined by the British star and Nicki Minaj during her 12-minute medley at this year’s half-time show.
The trio performed new track Give Me All Your Luvin’ on stage, where M.I.A got a little overzealous with her hand gestures and flicked up her middle finger during the show.
Her obscenity caused outrage among organisers and audiences alike, and now sources claim Madonna is furious at the star’s stage antics.
“Madonna wasn’t impressed. She prides herself on professionalism,” a source told British newspaper The Sun.
“M.I.A did nothing similar in rehearsals. Nobody knew she was going to pull this stunt.
“Madonna wanted to put on a world-beating performance. But everyone ended up talking about this girl’s middle finger.”
Brian McCarthy, spokesperson for the NFL, issued a statement yesterday apologising for the incident.
“The obscene gesture in the performance was completely inappropriate, very disappointing and we apologise to our fans,” he said.
A source close to M.I.A says the star’s stage gesture was a result of “adrenaline”.
“She wasn’t thinking. She was caught in the moment and she’s incredibly sorry,” the source said.
Meanwhile, in the wake of M.I.A’s Super Bowl controversy, it has been reported that she has split from Benjamin Bronfman – her long-time fiancé and the father of her son.
An insider told the New York Daily News that the 36-year-old is spending “most of her time” in her native London while Benjamin is taking care of their three-year-old son in New York.