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Cape Town - Madonna is being blasted on Twitter for making her tribute to Aretha Franklin all about herself.
The Ghosttown singer was criticised on social media for her tribute to the late singer at the 2018 VMA awards on Monday 20 August.
Madonna (60) was asked to speak about the music icon, who passed away on the 16 August aged 76 of pancreatic cancer, US Weekly reports.
Watching a video of Aretha’s song I Say a Little Prayer being shown on a large screen, many audience members were overcome with emotion as they remembered the singing legend.
This was followed by Madge’s speech in which she focused more on the struggles she’s overcome than the legendary singer.
The seven-time Grammy winner told the audience about how she auditioned for “two large French record producers [who] didn’t take me seriously”.
“And why should they? Some skinny ass white girl is going to come up here and belt out a song by one of the greatest soul singers that ever lived, a capella?” the BBC reports.
“So you’re probably all wondering why I’m telling you this story,” she went on. “There is a connection. Because none of this would have happened, could have happened, without our lady of soul.
“She led me to where I am today, and I know she influenced so many people in this house tonight, and I want to thank you, Aretha, for empowering all of us. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Long live the queen.”
This sent Twitter into a frenzy, with one user commenting, “The #VMA tribute to Aretha Franklin is Madonna talking about and honouring herself!”
“People are upset about Madonna’s Aretha Franklin tribute at the VMAs cos it was basically all about her and not Aretha,” another said
Another Twitter user referred to the 2009 VMAs after Michael Jackson had died and how Madonna had also used the platform to speak about herself, The Telegraph reports.
“I felt his pain, I know what it’s like to walk down the street and feel like the whole world is turned against you,” Madonna said in her tribute to the King of Pop.
“I know what it’s like to feel hopeless and not able to defend yourself because the roar of the witch hunt is so loud you’re convinced your voice can never be heard except I had a childhood and was allowed to make mistakes and find my own way in the world without being in the spotlight.”
Madonna has yet to respond to the backlash on social media.
Sources: US Weekly, Twitter, The Telegraph,BBC.com
