M.I.A. revealed that her former manager, Jay-Z, encouraged her to accept a settlement in the..
M.I.A. revealed that her former manager, Jay-Z, encouraged her to accept a settlement in the lawsuit with the NFL related to her 2012 Super Bowl halftime show appearance. The settlement allegedly stipulated that the NFL would retain 100 percent of her earnings if they exceeded $2 million. The lawsuit, stemming from her brief on-air middle finger gesture during the performance, prompted the NFL to sue M.I.A. for $16.6 million in 2014. Despite reaching an undisclosed settlement shortly thereafter, M.I.A. reflected on the experience, citing it as revealing the flaws in those around her regarding racism and sexism.
During her time at Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s management company, M.I.A. rejected the proposed settlement, recounting the absurdity of the terms. In a subsequent interview with Rolling Stone, she expanded on her dissatisfaction with the negotiations, suggesting that the NFL sought to exploit her due to her race and gender. According to M.I.A., the agreement implied a form of lifelong servitude, with her giving up all earnings to the NFL until her death.
Although a representative for Jay-Z declined to comment on the negotiations, M.I.A. expressed relief at leaving Roc Nation and resolving the lawsuit with her own legal team. She emphasized that at the time, few were willing to stand up against the NFL, but she is glad that activism and advocacy for women’s rights have since become more prominent. Reflecting on her departure from Roc Nation, M.I.A. asserted that the landscape has changed significantly since 2013, with more individuals now showing the courage to confront the NFL.
