The British-Sri Lankan rapper made the revelation when asked in an interview with MTV what she really loved.

"M.I.A. loves ... Justin Bieber?" she replied.

The rapper's response comes just months after she claimed Bieber's music videos were “more offensive” than her criticised video for recent single 'Born Free'.

But M.I.A later clarified the comment as a joke that “got out of hand”.

“I kind of feel bad, because I have some family members who love Justin Bieber, and now they won't talk to me. I need my little cousins to talk to me," she said.

M.I.A's new album '/\\/\\/\\Y/\\' was released on Monday (July 14).

(by Jason Gregory)