Madonna Faces Backlash For Aretha Franklin Tribute At The MTV VMAs
Another day, another backlash for Madonna. The Queen of Pop has come under fire for her tribute to Aretha Franklin at the 2018 MTV VMAs. The 60-year-old, who was dressed in traditional Berber garb from Morocco, delivered a rambling speech full of anecdotes about her own life. Including being mistaken for a prostitute in the ’80s and living in a crackhouse. I’m sure she meant well, but the tribute came off as self-indulgent and clearly missed the mark given the outpouring of dissatisfaction on social media.
Surely, most of the blame lies with MTV. It was their job to find the appropriate way to tribute Aretha and that involves finding someone with a deep personal or professional connection. Meanwhile, the only thing Madonna has in common with the Queen of Soul is the fact that they both hail from Detroit. If nothing else, it’s kind of heartening that Madonna is still as controversial as ever — 40 years into her career. Let’s just hope the Grammys do a better job of honoring Aretha in February. See an assortment of tweets below.
Me: It's weird that #Madonna is doing a tribute to Aretha Franklin, but what's the worst that could happen?
Madonna: pic.twitter.com/DvfueYKgCu
— Brittany Stephanis (@bmstephanis) August 21, 2018
MTV: We'd like you to give a tribute to Aretha Franklin
Madonna: Great, so this is how I got my career started…
MTV: No, no, a tribute to Aretha
Madonna: So I said "bitch, I'm Madonna"
MTV: This isn't about you madge
Madonna: Look at my African jewelry #VMAs
— lgreene91 (@lgreene91) August 21, 2018
Aretha watching Madonna’s tribute to her from heaven …. pic.twitter.com/fuMkCCf1AT
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) August 21, 2018
Madonna’s tribute to Aretha Franklin is Madonna telling a story about herself while acknowledging she loved the “Lady Soul” album. #VMAs
— Michael Arceneaux (@youngsinick) August 21, 2018
Madonna gave herself a tribute featuring Aretha.
— LoveYourself (@ScottieBeam) August 21, 2018
Madonna made Aretha Franklin's death about herself and her own musical journey, and honestly, this is some of the whitest shit I have ever seen. #VMAs
— Evette Dionne ♀️ (@freeblackgirl) August 21, 2018
Sooo playing Aretha’s songs during the ending credits and having Madonna dressed as a witch doctor while talking about herself was the tribute ? #VMAs pic.twitter.com/kYtKOl52Y8
— They Call Me Ari (@Kissma_Ars) August 21, 2018
Madonna talking about guitar lessons, Paris baguettes and her ass hanging out while she looked for a stiletto with the image of Aretha Franklin behind her is everything I expected from the #VMAs
— Kingsley (@kingsleyyy) August 21, 2018
"If it wasn't for Aretha, we wouldn't have Madonna"- Madonna
— Roy Wood Jr- Ex Jedi (@roywoodjr) August 21, 2018
Idk why folks are surprised at Madonna’s self-serving Aretha Franklin tribute at the #VMAs because I still remember how she began her Michael Jackson tribute back in 2009 ♂️ pic.twitter.com/aYJQKbfwLe
— Dallas.Hawes. (@DeeEmAych) August 21, 2018
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