Remember when M.I.A. flipped a worldwide audience the middle finger during the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show? The NFL sure does, and they’re still pretty salty over it.
Just how pissed are they? Pissed enough to seek $16.6 million from the singer.
M.I.A. wasn’t paid for the event as is the custom of the league. But nevertheless, the NFL spent the first two years of arbitration demanding $1.5 million for allegedly breaching her performance contract and tarnishing its goodwill and reputation.
Now the NFL has added an additional claim, seeking $15.1 million more in “restitution” as the alleged value of public exposure she received in appearing for an approximately two minute segment during Madonna‘s performance. The figure is based on what advertisers would have paid for ads during this time. “The claim for restitution lacks any basis in law, fact, or logic,” say M.I.A.’s response papers filed on Friday.
That is a healthy hunk of change. By this logic, the NFL would want $33.2 million from Marcus Hall.
Good on BIG FOOTBALL for going after someone who did something this heinous. No place in the country for that type of behavior. Think of the children!
[H/T: The Hollywood Reporter]