The Word: The aftermath of the Super finger

So what gives with M.I.A. flashing her middle finger during Sunday night’s Super Bowl performance?

On the one hand, you hate that such a stupid throwaway gesture is distracting from such a bangin’ performance by Madonna (with assists by Cee Lo Green, Nicki Minaj, LMFAO and a man who resembled Richard Simmons on a tight rope), and you know all of this attention is exactly what the British hip-hop star wanted. But why would she flip it in the first place? Who was it directed toward? Was it was pre-approved by Madonna? Or just her own secret plan? If M.I.A. came up with that bit of “choreography” on her own, that’s really biting the hand that feeds (and exploits you just a little bit to feel more relevant in today’s musical climate). I find the whole thing immature. Like: You’re so tough, M.I.A. Way to stick it to the man … who is paying you millions to appear on TV sets in 100 million homes. You must be so angry!

On the other hand, after everything edgy Madonna has done in her life, why is everyone in an uproar about one little middle finger?

Karl on M.I.A. and her middle finger
“Nowadays people give the middle finger quite quickly – it’s not the best behavior. Everybody does that, what’s new about that? It’s just become a bad habit.”

NBC vs. NFL
   
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement that NBC was to blame for airing the offending finger. “There was a failure in NBC’s delay system. The gesture in the performance was completely inappropriate, very disappointing, and we apologize to our fans,” he said. Meanwhile, NBC sports spokesman Christopher McCloskey shifted the blame back, saying, “The NFL hired the talent and produced the halftime show. Our system was late to obscure the inappropriate gesture, and we apologize to our viewers.”

Katy Perry … and Tim Tebow?

Katy Perry made her first U.S. concert appearance since husband Russell Brand filed for divorce, playing a pre-Super Bowl party in Indianapolis, according to People magazine. And while she made no mention of Brand, she did apparently have another guy on her mind: “This one goes out to Tim Tebow,” she said before playing her song “Peacock.” It was previously reported that Perry’s religious parents were eager to set their newly single daughter up with the football player because “above all, he’s a good Christian.” If you need a rebound who is the exact opposite of your soon-to-be ex-husband, Tim Tebow is probably it.

For more gossip news visit Dorothy Robinson’s Word blog. Follow her on Twitter @DorothyatMetro.