The funny thing about certain TV watchdogs getting their collective knickers in a twist over upstart pop star M.I.A.’s bird-flipping antics during her performance with Madonna and Nicki Minaj at Sunday’s Super Bowl halftime show is that millions of Americans might otherwise have blinked and missed it — that is, until the concerned conservatives kicked up a fuss.

Watch, if you dare, the eyeball-searing moment of moral degeneracy below in the AP’s video coverage of the controversy. –KA

Los Angeles Times:

The gesture, accompanied by a barely disguised expletive, came during a performance of Madonna’s new single, “Give Me All Your Luvin.”‘ At the end of her lines, M.I.A. appeared to sing “I don’t give a (expletive),” although it was hard to hear clearly.

… The Super Bowl, shown on NBC this year, is routinely viewed by more than 100 million people, the biggest TV event of the year. The screen briefly went blurred after M.I.A.’s gesture in what was a late attempt — by less than a second — to cut out the camera shot.

“The NFL hired the talent and produced the halftime show,” NBC spokesman Christopher McCloskey said. “Our system was late to obscure the inappropriate gesture and we apologize to our viewers.”

Read more

AP via Los Angeles Times:

Your support is crucial…

With an uncertain future and a new administration casting doubt on press freedoms, the danger is clear: The truth is at risk.

Now is the time to give. Your tax-deductible support allows us to dig deeper, delivering fearless investigative reporting and analysis that exposes what’s really happening — without compromise.

During this holiday season, stand with our courageous journalists. Donate today to protect a free press, uphold democracy and ensure the stories that matter are told.

SUPPORT TRUTHDIG