Madonna Defends Aretha Franklin Speech at VMAs: ‘I Did Not Intend to Do a Tribute’
Madonna defended her long speech at Monday’s MTV Video Music Awards on Tuesday, explaining that she “did not intend to do a tribute” to Aretha Franklin with the speech.
“I was asked to present video of the year by MTV! And then they asked me to share any anecdotes I had in my career connected to Aretha Franklin!” the singer wrote in an Instagram post. “I shared a part of my journey and thanked Aretha for inspiring me along the way.”
Madonna presented Camila Cabello with the Video of the Year award on Monday night but entered the stage with a portrait of Franklin projected on the screen behind her. She opened with an anecdote about singing Franklin’s “(You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman” at an audition, a long and roaming story that seemed more relevant to Madonna’s life and career than to Franklin’s.
“I was asked to present video of the year by MTV! And then they asked me to share any anecdotes I had in my career connected to Aretha Franklin!” the singer wrote in an Instagram post. “I shared a part of my journey and thanked Aretha for inspiring me along the way.”
Madonna presented Camila Cabello with the Video of the Year award on Monday night but entered the stage with a portrait of Franklin projected on the screen behind her. She opened with an anecdote about singing Franklin’s “(You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman” at an audition, a long and roaming story that seemed more relevant to Madonna’s life and career than to Franklin’s.
- 8/21/2018
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
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