MTV bosses finger Avril for interview gaffe

MTV cut short an interview with Avril Lavigne after she stuck her middle finger up at the camera. She was reacting to a question about what she thought about the way she was portrayed in the media.

MTV immediately scrapped plans for the Canadian teenager to perform another song on 'Total Request Live'. Her spokeswoman defended the singer's actions saying: "It wasn't a gesture of defiance. She was laughing."

However, MTV bosses, still reeling from the criticism they received over Janet Jackson's 'nipplegate' incident, were said to be furious. An MTV source was quoted as saying: "It's totally inappropriate to make that gesture on air. It's a little disrespectful to the audience."