Singer MIA didn't mean to stick her middle finger up during the Super Bowl half time show and blames her behaviour on adrenaline and nerves, according to a source.
The singer made headlines yesterday after she flipped the bird and swore while performing with Madonna and Nicki Minaj, (Read more: Singer MIA flips the bird).
MIA has not made an official comment about the incident but a close friend told ABC News Radio that she wasn't trying to "make any kind of statement".
The source said MIA was "caught up in the moment" and full of "adrenaline and nerves".
A spokesman for the official broadcaster of this year's Super Bowl, NBC's Christopher McCloskey apologised for the incident.
"Our system was late to obscure the inappropriate gesture and we apologise," Mr McCloskey said.
PHOTOS: Super Bowl highlights
Super Bowl scandals are not uncommon — last year, Christina Aguilera skipped two lines of the national anthem during the opening performance.
In 2007, pop singer Prince was silhouetted in an unusual pose with his guitar and in 2004, Janet Jackson was the victim of the infamous "wardrobe malfunction" when her tassel-adorned breast was exposed by Justin Timberlake during their performance.
The New York Giants won today's
Super Bowl XLVI game against the New England Patriots.
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