The FCC might have a tight grip on most US broadcasts, but one person who doesn’t give a sh…nickerdoodle is M.I.A. The UK performer is known for her risqué music and style and she didn’t disappoint during a recent NFL broadcast, where she lifted a middle finger, clearly mouthing the words "I don't give a shit" in the middle of an extended performance of her song 'Gimme All Your Luvin’.' A little detail, which makes the gesture that much more scandalous: all this happened during the halftime show at Super Bowl XLVI.

M.I.A, The Danforth Music Hall Toronto
M.I.A usually manages to fan some flames with her performances.

The performance was more than a year ago, and up until a month later, there were no consequences for M.I.A.’s controvercial gesture (apart from the skies opening and hellfire raining on the sinners who dared to watch, presumably). But if the singer thought she was in the clear, she was sorely mistaken. The NFL finally pressed charges against M.I.A., real name Mathangi Arulpragasam, in March 2012.

Now, according to The Hollywood Reporter, in the 18 months since, the singer has been waging a secret legal battle with the NFL over the contents of her performance. Last week, NFL lawyers pushed in their plea to have Arulpragasam deemed liable for breaching the terms of her contract. The legal team demands a summary judgement and there are plans to move on to a trial for damages.

M.I.A, Danforth Music Hall Toronto
This time, however, it might be more serious.

As you might expect, the opinionated singer/rapper isn’t taking this lying down. Her lawyer Howard King tells THR that his client plans to launch a public war on the mega-powerful football league. The singer is best known for catchy hits like 'Paper Planes,' 'Bad Girls' and 'Bring the Noize,' as well as doing a lot of work to raise awareness of human rights abuses in her war-torn South Asian homeland. It is unknown how this legal conflict, having now gone public, will affect her image and reputation. Chances are, she does give a...

M.I.A, Danforth Music Hall Toronto
The bad girl is planning to counter-sue.