Writer responds to M.I.A. phone posting

A journalist has responded after M.I.A. posted her telephone number online following a supposedly critical piece she wrote about the singer.

The 'Born Free' star seemingly wrote Lynn Hirschberg's number on Twitter in response to a piece published in The New York Times.

Hirschberg told The New York Observer: "I find it kind of interesting that she would cast the spotlight on the story in any way, shape or form."

She claimed that the posting of her phone number was "infuriating", adding: "It's a fairly unethical thing to do, but I don't think it's surprising. She's a provocateur, and provocateurs want to be provocative."

When asked if her piece was similar to her infamous 1992 Vanity Fair article about Courtney Love, Hirschberg replied: "I don't think the pieces have anything to do with each other. I think M.I.A. is a completely different animal - she's closer to Madonna than to Courtney."