Officials at America's leading family decency group The Parents Television Council have blasted M.I.A. for showing her middle finger during Madonna's Super Bowl half-time performance on Sunday, calling the "Paper Planes" hitmaker "desperate" and "selfish" for her actions.

M.I.A. flipped the bird straight into a camera during the live performance of Madonna's new song "Gimme All Your Luvin'," causing outrage among watchdog groups.

TV executives and National Football League officials have already apologized to TV viewers for the split-second gesture, which censors failed to pick up, and now PTC bosses are taking aim at the hip-hop star in an open letter.

They write, "It is unfortunate that a spectacular sporting event was overshadowed once again by broadcasting the selfish acts of a desperate performer... performers who have based their careers on shock profanity and titillation."