The principal star of the half–time show at Super Bowl XLVI (2012) was Madonna. She was towed onto the stage by men dressed as gladiators, concealed in a large, ornate structure, and was revealed to be sitting on a throne in ancient–Egyptian–style attire. For her fourth number – Give Me All Your Luvin', from her album MDNA (released one month after this show) she was joined onstage by rappers Nicki Minaj and M.I.A., who both performed as guest artists on the album track.
The London–born rapper M.I.A. (real name Mathangi 'Maya' Arulpragasam – MBE) caused outrage by extending her middle finger in a gesture to the television camera towards the end of her verse of the song, instead of singing the word "shit". The NFL later demanded a public apology, and sued M.I.A. for a reported $16.6 million in damages. M.I.A. responded by accusing the NFL of hypocrisy, claiming that she was being sued for displaying female empowerment rather than promoting sexual exploitation.
The lawsuit was settled in 2014; details were not made public.
© Haydn Thompson 2021