A mere shadow of its former rebellious self, a post-Nipplegate MTV yesterday expressed outrage at Avril Lavigne for sticking up her middle finger on camera during the channel's flagship show Total Request Live. Lavigne used to gesture to respond to a question on he she felt she was portrayed in the media. Producers swiftly cut the interview after the finger had been raised, and scrapped plans for Lavigne to perform another song. A spokesman for MTV US told the New York Daily News: "It's totally inappropriate to make that gesture on the air. It's a little disrespectful to the audience."
Lavigne's spokeswoman didn't seem too bothered, explaining: "It wasn't a gesture of defiance. She was laughing."