Rapper M.I.A. has defended her rude gesture during a performance at the U.S. Super Bowl, insisting raising the middle finger is a harmless meditation technique dating back 5,000 years.
She caused outrage when she raised her finger during her slot with Madonna as part of the half-time entertainment.
She has since been hit with a lawsuit by NFL bosses, who are demanding $1.5 million (£1 million) for breach of contract, prompting her to accuse them of "corporation d**k-shaking" and brand the legal action "ridiculous".
In an column for NME, M.I.A. writes, "Matangi Mudra is a meditation pose for a Hindu Goddess, which dates back 5,000 years. It involves raising your middle fingers. I raised my middle finger at the Super Bowl and I'm having to go through a court case. If you don't like the pose then you'll have to rewrite (ancient Sanskrit texts) the Vedas. What are they going to do? Burn them?
So if you're ever caught giving some the finger you have a great excuse: "I'm meditating!"
