Deadline reports:
Considering it was the MTV Video Music Awards, one would think that they would have some sort of tribute to the late, great Aretha Franklin — and they did. Madonna stepped out on the stage at the VMAs adorned in a graduation robe and what looks like everything from her jewelry box paid homage to the Queen of Soul, but it wasn’t the tribute many people had in mind.
Even though Madonna said the point of her story was that her career wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t “for our ‘Lady of Soul’” and ended saying, “Thank you for empowering all of us. Long live the queen”, Twitter immediately dragged, roasted and read Madonna for filth for making the tribute about herself and her journey as a pop star — whether it was intentional or not.
I’m so lost. I thought Madonna was supposed to be paying homage to Aretha but I all heard was her paying homage to herself. HEAVY on the Mayonnaise……
— Charlamagne Tha God (@cthagod) 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