M.I.A. debates with CNN anchor Anderson Cooper on Twitter

Anderson Cooper and M.I.A. had a long exchange over Twitter on Wednesday night after M.I.A. accused Cooper of calling her a terrorist. Watching Britain’s Channel 4 program, Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields, M.I.A. tweeted her followers suggesting they also tune in. In her following tweet, she called out Cooper, saying “someone should make @andersoncooper watch it / film it and show the world what happens when respected journos get it wrong #killingfields.” Then, she said that Cooper had called her “a terrorist for speaking out.”

It appears that M.I.A. was referring to a 2009 incident when the blog linked to Anderson Cooper’s CNN show hinted at an article published in the Charleston Mercury News titled, “Lady Tamil Tiger Gives Pop Culture A Bang.” The article discussed M.I.A.’s hit, “Paper Planes,” and the work of her father who is widely known as a Tamil activist.

Cooper replied promptly, saying, “@MIAuniverse, you are mistaken. I never called you a terrorist. I don’t even know who you are other than the lady who sang at superbowl. by the way, I defended your finger pointing at the superbowl, so check your facts.” He added, “I can understand your frustration if someone wrote untrue things about you. the brutal war in SL has not gotten enough coverage in the US.” M.I.A. then thanked Cooper for defending her finger.