Madonna is enduring a storm of criticism after she gave a strange and self-indulgent tribute to the late Aretha Franklin on Monday night at the MTV Video Music Awards, Rolling Stone reports.
Donning bizarre costumes many on Twitter were quick to condemn as cultural appropriation, Elias Leight writes of Madonna’s dedication: “Madonna proceeded to launch into a lengthy story about her own attempts to break into a singing career. The story had little to do with Franklin, though Madonna did note that she performed “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” at one of her auditions.
“That audition led her to move to Paris, then back to the U.S., and eventually Madonna pivoted back to Franklin. “You’re probably all wondering why I’m telling you this story,” she said, and she wasn’t wrong. “None of [my success] would’ve happened, could’ve happened, without our Lady of Soul.”
Madonna continued on, Leight reports, acknowledging Franklin’s influence on “so many people in this house tonight,” but many thought the lengthy speech missed its mark in both relevance in sincerity.
Take a look at Madonna’s speech — and some of the reactions to it — below. What do you think? Is the criticism warranted?
People are upset about Madonna’s Aretha Franklin tribute at the VMA’s ‘cos it was basically all about her and not Aretha. Whatchu think? Here’s a snippet
Video credit @TheRaroLae pic.twitter.com/9loUPGTG24
— Kenzy Vinco (@KenzyVinco) August 21, 2018
Madonna gave herself a tribute featuring Aretha.
— LoveYourself (@ScottieBeam) August 21, 2018
What a touching tribute to Aretha Franklin where Madonna talked about her goddam self for like 30 mins
— KFC (@KFCBarstool) August 21, 2018
Madonna, is this about you or Aretha or the person you’re giving the award to? #VMAs pic.twitter.com/4L663EcSIs
— Bossip (@Bossip) August 21, 2018
.@MTV is literally the first network that had an opportunity to give Aretha Franklin a proper tribute, and they decided to have @Madonna stand on stage… In the most cultural appropriative outfit possible… And talk about her rags to riches story
Disgusting #VMAs
Where’s @bet pic.twitter.com/xkQ8kimksT
— Nicole Tinson (@Nikki_T) August 21, 2018
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