In the video for her hard-hitting recent single "Borders," M.I.A gives a stark portrayal of the refugee crisis, showing overflowing boats, wire fences being scaled, and lines of asylum seekers walking through the sea.
The U.K. artist wears number of colorful and casual outfits in the video, and for about eight seconds she's shown in a knock-off of the soccer team Paris Saint-Germain's jersey. On her version, the logo of the team's sponsor, Fly Emirates, is doctored to read "Fly Pirates."
Today, M.I.A leaked a document on Twitter that had been sent to her team on December 14 2015 by Paris Saint-Germain, which formally requested the removal of all imagery of the shirt from the video and M.I.A's own channels, as well as "compensation for the harm we have suffered." It also indicated that there would be legal consequences if the singer did not comply.
— M.I.A (@MIAuniverse) January 11, 2016
Clearly, the singer didn't cave: nearly a month later and the video's still on Apple Music. But she's been using the opportunity to start a conversation about censorship and privilege, with follow-up tweets including the following:
So there's the case MIA vs PSG - discuss - ting
— M.I.A (@MIAuniverse) January 11, 2016
Me and sports - it's a love hate thing
— M.I.A (@MIAuniverse) January 11, 2016
Don't they know about me and NFL? #PSGvsMIA #BORDERSvideo.
— M.I.A (@MIAuniverse) January 11, 2016
When I make videos I end up on hit lists not end of year lists whyyyyyyy? MIAvsPSG BORDERSvideo
— M.I.A (@MIAuniverse) January 11, 2016
BORDERS came out the day of Paris Memorial Day ceremony for victims of Paris attack. Having an Eiffel Tower on my tee was support I thought
— M.I.A (@MIAuniverse) January 11, 2016
Watch the "Borders" video here:
