LOS ANGELES TIMES: Perhaps most outraged is the Parents Television Council. PTC President Tim Winter released a statement taking NBC to task for the slipped finger. “NBC fumbled and the NFL lied because a performer known as M.I.A. felt it necessary to flip off millions of families,” Winter said. “It is unfortunate that a spectacular sporting event was overshadowed once again by broadcasting the selfish acts of a desperate performer.” Sunday night, a source close to M.I.A. said the performer had been struck with “a case of adrenaline.” “She wasn’t thinking,” the source said. “It wasn’t any kind of statement. She was caught in the moment and she’s incredibly sorry.” MORE
PHAWKER: Not sure which is lamer, him whining about it or her apologizing for it. But this much is clear if it weren’t for Puritanical prudes like the Parents Television Council re-enforcing outdated notions of obscenity and decency that gives taboo its power to offend, the middle finger would be regarded as no more or less ‘dirty’ than the other nine.