This year's annual Metropolitan Ball brought out an array of tastemakers from the fashion industry -- not to mention appearances from Vogue magazine's Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour, Kerry Washington and Oprah Winfrey.
For London rap star M.I.A. the glitzy gala, which took place May 3 at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, left a bitter taste in her mouth when it came to some of the event's attendees.
In an exclusive interview with London's Time Out magazine, the 'Paper Planes' lyricist vented on the treatment she received from producer Pharrell Williams and the almighty Winfrey.
"He was just telling me off like crazy. 'You can't just keep beating people up,'" she recalled about her interaction with Williams. "I thought he'd seen the 'Born Free' video, so I was actually listening because I thought he must be saying my video's too violent. He was like, 'You know you can't just keep giving people that shit; you have to hand out the sugar.'"
"I was a bit offended because he was talking about the shepherd and the sheep, and I was like, 'I never think I'm making music for sheep, I'm making music for shepherds... people who think like individuals and who want to be their own f---ing leader.'"
Diddy complimented the Grammy Award nominee (legally known as Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam) following the N.E.R.D. frontman's offhand comments and insisted he apologize to her.
Williams wasn't the only person who got on M.I.A.'s bad side. She had choice words about America's queen of all media.
"Oprah seemed like she was giving me the cold shoulder," she revealed. "She was with Iman. Iman was always dancing with me, hugging and kissing me, but Oprah seemed really pissed off with me."
"Also, she made this huge speech at the ball praising Lady Gaga about how she is helping Americans to be the best of themselves. There's millions of other Americans who represent that for me. Is [it] about numbers? About how much you're selling?"
M.I.A, added, "Is it truly about the journey? Because [Gaga's] journey isn't that difficult. To go from the f---king Upper East Side to a f---ing performing arts school and onto a stage at the museum of f---ng wherever. That journey's about four miles.'"
M.I.A. released her third studio album, 'Maya,' earlier this month. The album features the singles 'Born Free' and 'XXXO.'
Comments: (22)
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By: dayna on 7/28/2010 12:38PM
There are better ways to express your displeasure with people other than putting them on blast M.I.A. Why not PERSONALLY address it with them in the moment it is happening or the next time you see them ? Publicizing your displeasure with anyone, especially someone as wealthy and famous as OPRAH WINFREY may create an ocean of problems you never anticipated. Also, trying to create some buzz about yourself by throwing powerful people UNDER THE BUS is not a good look. You're trading temporary buzz in exchange for creating a powerful enemy. DUMB! Uh . . . . find a new way to promote yourself.
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By: kim on 7/28/2010 2:14PM
so on point with your comment!!
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By: Jewel on 7/28/2010 5:34PM
I love your comment. But you know Oprah is like M.I.A. who???? It's people who are loyal to Oprah that will make things difficult for M.I.A. instead. She is really shooting herself in the foot.
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By: Mike on 7/29/2010 7:16AM
Dayna I agree with you. Dumb idea to blast out in public the people that might be able to help her career.
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By: You Know Who on 7/29/2010 10:26AM
All of you are correct,A+ , great ,all these wealthy black people,and we still are under-educated, under-employed, lack skills for a changing economy.A very small number of blacks do not have 5,000.00 dollars,equity,cash or anything else. Our priority's are all backwards, the church got money,fast food,soulfood,oh yea,you wear the lastest fashions and are broke.Plenty work to do, clean-up your our houses before passing judgement on one another. Give me and everybody else a break. It's simple, we talk to much about garbage. That smells bad, and sounds bad, no substance, where you think the "NNg" word came from, fools, in the dark going nothing fast.Go back to work, pay your bills on time and taxes. Grow-up , nothing new but the date, 20 years or less, no one will know or care about today, trivia, gossip. Take care of your family first, cover your own ass, I got mine covered.Retired gangster and proud of it. Who's smarter than a 5th grader, go on and smile. Laughing is go for the heart.
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By: Liz on 7/29/2010 2:14PM
While I may agree with some of your comments I have a problem with Kissing A_ _ especially Oprah Winfrey's she has money but what has all of it done for her. She is an extremely un-happy woman who can't even buy the man she wants. So money can't buy you everything, happiness, health, or even peace of mind. So while this young lady may not have addresed the situation the way you or I would I say continue to be free from fear of retailiation, speak your mind. Remember the truth shall set us all free one. That's the problem we continue to be afraid of what if?
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By: rick on 7/28/2010 9:43AM
If M. I. A. had some talent then she wouldn't have had that problem. Will you take your behind back to London or wherever you came from!!!
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By: kim on 7/28/2010 2:12PM
@ Rick, I was thinking the same thing after reading the article. I still don't know who she is & she sound a lil bitter about Gaga's success.
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By: Tonya on 7/28/2010 2:40PM
I agree with MIA about Lady Gaga..however, she is truly not making herself look any better by badmouthing people in the press. I don't listen to either artists music, so it makes not difference to me.
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By: kheru on 8/01/2010 11:43AM
not a fan of MIA and don't care about her, but you have to like her nerve! I hope she is rewarded by not kissing those peoples' A**. there are many people in every industry that might be able to help you but won't or don't care about you. you're supposed to hold your tongue on the outside chance that someone you don't know MIGHT help you one day? and why is Oprah bigging up GAGA? has she heard the b*tch "sing" live? jeez. aren't we sick of all of oprah's white favorites? like Gaga doesn't have enough attention with Oprah backing her. the only thing I see Gaga doing positive is keeping her original nose and showing people that when you're ugly, rather than go to a plastic surgeon, cover yourself with the kind of plastic you can take off again--like wigs, face paint, big bubbles and paper mache spikes. lol.
"my body's like a barbie, but my face is like a Ken." from "Butterface" parody.
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