Blame game after M.I.A. gesture

NBC and the NFL apologized for a rude gesture flipped by British hip-hop star M.I.A. during her halftime performance at Sunday's Super Bowl, but one advocacy group called for further action, Reuters reports.

At Sunday's show, M.I.A. joined Madonna on stage with hip-hop star Nicki Minaj and was performing "Give Me All Your Luvin' " from Madonna's latest album when M.I.A. extended her middle finger in a fleeting gesture while facing the camera.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement that NBC was to blame for a technical failure. "There was a failure in NBC's delay system. The gesture in the performance was completely inappropriate, very disappointing, and we apologize to our fans," he said.

NBC sports spokesman Christopher McCloskey shifted more of the blame back to the NFL, saying, "The NFL hired the talent and produced the halftime show. Our system was late to obscure the inappropriate gesture and we apologize to our viewers."

Activist group, the Parents Television Council said Monday that both the NFL and NBC were to blame and asked for further immediate steps to be taken "to hold those accountable for this offensive material."