M.I.A. and Justin Bieber

M.I.A. is responding to the criticism surrounding her controversial music video for “Born Free” and she’s dragging Justin Bieber into the mix.

The Romain Gavras-directed clip sparked debate after it was banned from YouTube for its violent nature, but M.I.A. doesn’t understand what all the fuss is about. “If I’m honest, I find the new Justin Bieber video more violent and more of an assault to my eyes and senses than what I’ve made,” she tells NME magazine. Exactly which of the teen sensation’s videos she’s talking about is unknown.

“I did nine hours of phone interviews yesterday and all anyone wanted to know about was the meaning of the video,” she adds. “It completely baffles me that everyone seems obsessed with deciphering the meaning to it, in the same way as the Brick Lane riot for American Apparel leggings baffled me.”

M.I.A. will release her third album ///Y/ on July 13. The title spells out her real name Maya in slashes. The first single “XXXO” hit the net this week, while the original version produced solely by Blaqstarr can be heard on her website.