Rapper criticised by her followers...
Jason Gregory

08:59 9th August 2011

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M.I.A has been criticised over her remarks about the riots in London last night (August 8).

The rapper was one of a number of musicians who reacted to the violence on Twitter as it continued to spread across the capital, as well as to other cities in the UK.


“I'm going down to the riots to hand out tea and mars bars,” M.I.A wrote.

Her tweet was immediately criticised by other users on the micro-blogging website, with one writing: “Bet she said this from her Bev Hills mansion.”

Another fan called her a muppet, while another said: “Not cool M.I.A.”

The DJ and producer Fake Blood wrote: “If anyone sees MIA handing out tea and Mars bars, throw her in a f*cking wheelie bin.”

Earlier this year, M.I.A's producer Diplo accused the star of glamorising terrorism and said she knew nothing about the political subjects that she uses in her songs.

The riots in London began on Saturday (August 6) in Tottenham and spread to south London on Sunday (7).

Last night, parts of Hackney, Croydon and Camden were also affected, while violence and looting was reported in Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool.

What do you think about M.I.A's remarks? Leave your thoughts in the comment form below.

Twitter Feuds

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  • Lily Allen vs Courtney Love: A war of words erupted between these two in March 2010 when Love claimed Allen had put a “lockdown” on certain clothes at an awards ceremony. “Why would anyone put a ‘lock’ on clothing…does that shit really happen? Crazyness!” Allen responded, before adding to a fan who asked her if it was true: “No but it’s the sort of thing a paranoid drug addled lunatic might come up with.”

  • Foals vs Lostprophets: Lostprophets guitarist Lee Gaze sparked a Twitter war with Foals after he slagged off the band on Twitter. "I've got some news. Foals are fucking shit,” Gaze wrote, which prompted Foals frontman Yannis Philippakis to compare the Welsh band to "'a boney old chihuahua pissing on its own leg".

  • Axl Rose vs The Media: Strictly the victims of Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose's Twitter rant aren't exactly on Twitter – at least no collectively. But that didn't stop the singer from launching into a 787 word tirade against the media earlier this year over what he claimed had been a host of “nonsense” reports. “I've no respect for mean spirited aholes gettin' paid talkin' shit at other's expense or irresponsible biased partisan politics wanna be journalism by dated hacks. Go on! Back ur boy!” he wrote.

  • Liam Gallagher vs Peter Kay: Comedian Peter Kay isn't on Twitter, but that didn't stop Liam Gallagher from attacking him in February. The former Oasis singer called Kay to rights after he called Gallagher a “knobhead” at the Brit Awards. "Listen up fat fuck," Gallagher wrote. "As a real northerner I was brought up 2 say shit 2 people's faces not behind their back. Live forever LG"

  • 50 Cent vs P Diddy: When he's not busy recalling his activities in the bedroom, 50 Cent uses his Twitter account to attack other musicians. In July, he used the micro-blogging website to slam P Diddy for his apparent exploitation of the late Notorious B.I.G.

  • Peter Hook vs Mani: Primal Scream bassist Mani unleashed an unexpected attack against his Freebass bandmate and former Joy Division bassist Peter Hook in September. The attack centred on Hook's decision to tour Joy Division's 'Unknown Pleasures'. The bassist accused Hook of living of singer Ian Curtis's “blood money”, but he later apologised, saying Freebass's split had”tipped me over the edge”.

  • Justin Bieber vs Online Enemy: With an army of over 5 millions Twitter followers, it's best not to upset teen sensation Justin Bieber, as he proved earlier this year when he posted the phone number of an enemy on the social-networking site. As a result, Kevin Kristopik found himself the unwilling recipient of thousands of phone calls and messages from Bieber's Beliebers.

  • Travis Barker vs Shanna Moakler: The Blink-182 drummer took his Twitter page last year to unleash a series of shocking allegations against his former wife, Shanna Moakler, including one which questioned her ability as a mother.

  • Courtney Love vs The Veronicas: You can always be guaranteed that when Courtney Love writes something that makes sense on Twitter, it's usually involves having a pop at someone else. That was the case in July 2009 when she accused band The Veronicas of being so like her that they are “wearing my actual clothes”. Singer Jess Origliasso then replied: “I'm a huge fan of her music! …. Its ok that she isn’t into POP music, or our band… But the stealing her clothes thing, and the hair? Give me a break.”

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