MIA has asked Madonna for financial help after the NFL demanded she pay them $16.6m (£9.1m) in compensation for showing her middle finger during the 2012 Super Bowl half-time show.
It has been confirmed that the NFL have stepped up their legal action against MIA with the American Arbitration Association on Friday (March 14). The Hollywood Reporter states that the NFL are demanding $15.1m in “restitution” on top of the $1.5m (£900,000) they were already chasing for breach of contract.
The NFL claims that the additional $15m covers “the alleged value of public exposure she received by appearing for an approximately two minute segment during Madonna’s performance,” stating that, “The figure is based on what advertisers would have paid for ads during this time.”
In response, MIA’s spokesperson has said that the claim, “lacks any basis in law, fact, or logic.” Adding that the “continued pursuit of this proceeding is transparently an exercise by the NFL intended solely to bully and make an example of Respondents for daring to challenge NFL.”
The statement also refers to various other explicit moments from previous Super Bowl performances as well as a recent fine issued to a player found to have used racially aggressive language on the field.
Tweeting about the story earlier today (March 17), MIA sent a message to Madonna which reads: “ummm ….. can i borrow 16 million ?”
(@ nme.com)
