the law

The NFL Wants $16.6 Million From M.I.A. Now

M.I.A. performs during the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show
M.I.A. performs during the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 5, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images

The NFL’s first lawsuit against M.I.A. — for that middle finger she flashed during the Super Bowl halftime show back in 2012 — was for a mere $1.5 million. She took it public, so now they are trying to sue for an additional $15.1 million in “restitution.” Okay, NFL! M.I.A’s lawyers are fighting back with a long list of the lewd things the NFL has allowed on its watch: Michael Jackson’s crotch-grab, Prince’s shadow-penis, even Madonna’s backup dancers. Presumably they are also using common sense as a defense.

The NFL Wants $16.6 Million From M.I.A. Now