M.I.A. accuses VMAs of 'racism, sexism, classism, elitism' over nominations

The artist took to Twitter to criticise the award show's exclusion of her video for 'Borders' - which puts the refugee crisis at its very centre

Artist M.I.A. has accused the VMAs - the MTV Music Video Awards - of "racism, sexism, classicism, elitism", following the exclusion of her video for 'Borders' from this year's nominations.

The announced shortlist is largely dominated by the likes of Adele and Beyoncé, the latter being targeted in controversial comments by M.I.A. which criticised her for not being vocal about issues other than Black Lives Matter. Speaking to the Evening Standard in April, she had stated; "Is Beyoncé or Kendrick Lamar going to say Muslim Lives Matter? Or Syrian Lives Matter? Or this kid in Pakistan matters? That’s a more interesting question."

Backlash to her comments led the artist to drop out of London's Afropunk festival; with organisers stating, "After discussing the situation with the artist and the community, a decision was agreed upon by all involved that M.I.A. will no longer headline Afropunk London."

She later clarified that her criticisms weren't intended to directly target Beyoncé; stating, "My question was, on American platforms what do they allow you to stand up for in 2016? This has been the number 1 question for me."

The video, directed by M.I.A. herself, makes clear reference to the refugee crisis in a series of stunning, powerful images; including a boat made up entirely of people, and synchronised flotillas packed with young men crossing the waters.

Following the nominations, the artist took to Twitter to criticise her exclusion as indicative of the lack of platform for those other than major US artists.

M.I.A., whose real name is Mathangi Arulpragasam, has first-hand experience of being a refugee; having fled a war-torn Sri Lanka to settle in West London with her family when she was nine-years-old.

M.I.A. will release her new album A.I.M. on 9 September.