TV bosses apologise for M.I.A.'s obscene gesture during Super Bowl

Officials at NBC have apologised after M.I.A. showed her middle finger to the cameras during Madonna's half-time show at the Super Bowl on Sunday (05Feb12).

The Material Girl invited the British rapper and Nicki Minaj to join her onstage at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for a performance of their new track Give Me All Your Luvin' in front of millions of viewers around the world.

However, the Paper Planes hitmaker caused controversy by flipping her middle finger, and TV bosses have been quick to say sorry for failing to cut the rude gesture from their broadcast.

NBC spokesman Christopher McCloskey says, "We apologise for the inappropriate gesture that aired during half time. It was a spontaneous gesture that our delay system caught late."