(CNN) Madonna's attempt to pay tribute to Aretha Franklin on MTV's Video Music Awards has some viewers calling out the singer for d-i-s-r-e-s-p-e-c-t.
'Long live the queen'
Madonna opened her statement by saying Franklin "changed the course of my life," but from there, it evolved into a story about Madonna's journey into the music business.
The singer shared her experience at an audition where she sang Franklin's "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" in a last-minute decision after she had failed to bring sheet music or prepare another song.
Madonna said she ended up singing the tune, which she knew "by heart," acapella. Though, she said, the two men who she was auditioning for didn't believe "some skinny-ass white girl" was going to "belt out a song by one of the greatest soul singers that ever lived."
According to Madonna, she impressed the men, but the gig ended up leading to a dead-end opportunity. While her big break would come later, she said Franklin "led me to where I am today."
"I want to thank you, Aretha, for empowering all of us. R-E-S-P-E-C-T," she said. "Long live the queen."
The reaction
Viewers reacted swiftly on social media to Madonna's story and her attempt to honor Franklin.
Some people complained that Madonna's remarks were too focused on her own triumph rather than Franklin's legacy.
"So instead of an actual tribute to Aretha you let Madonna talk about herself for 30 minutes?! @MTV our beautiful black queen deserves better," wrote one user.
This ain't about Aretha at all. #VMAs — Felonious Munk (@Felonious_munk) August 21, 2018
*Aretha Franklin dies*
MTV: "You know what would be really good? If Madonna talked about herself for 10 minutes and mentioned Aretha once" — Hannah (@HannnSandwich) August 21, 2018
So instead of an actual tribute to Aretha you let Madonna talk about herself for 30 minutes?! @MTV our beautiful black queen deserves better — Rebekah Genice (@rebekah_genice) August 21, 2018
Others lambasted MTV for failing to find an artist of color to speak to Franklin's impact.
#Madonna is demonstrating a dynamic performance of peak white womanhood. This was not an #Aretha tribute but a monologue on how another iconic Black woman is being reduced to how she helped a white woman. — Anansi (@blaqueerflow) August 21, 2018
So all the black artist they could call to talk about the legacy of the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin and MTV brought out Madonna to mention Aretha one time in her long ass story???? #VMAs D.I.S.R.E.S.P.E.C.T. pic.twitter.com/9wAmpxH74k — Joy Henry (@joibella19) August 21, 2018
this just goes to show. just because you surround yourself with black people doesn't mean you understand what it means to show respect and compassion towards our community. @MTV knew better and so did Madonna. Aretha deserved better. #VMAs — lisa baye. (@callherlisa) August 21, 2018
"#Madonna is demonstrating a dynamic performance of peak white womanhood. This was not an #Aretha tribute but a monologue on how another iconic Black woman is being reduced to how she helped a white woman," one person wrote.
MTV has not responded to CNN's request for comment.
After Aretha Franklin died last week, MTV’s Video Music Awards producers scrambled to plan a tribute that would air during the network’s annual telecast on Monday night. The stakes were high to honor the legendary soul singer — and unfortunately, thanks to a bizarre speech from Madonna, it didn’t go so well.
It started as Madonna arrived on the VMAs stage at the end of the night to present the video of the year award. At first, she launched into a monologue that appeared to be a tribute: “Aretha Louise Franklin changed the course of my life,” she said. “I left Detroit when I was 18. $35 in my pocket. My dream was to make it as a professional dancer.”
Okay, Franklin was from Detroit, so this could go somewhere interesting. The audience settled in.
[Aretha Franklin dies at 76: President Trump, Barack Obama, Diana Ross and more pay tribute]
“After years of struggling and being broke, I decided to go to auditions for musical theater. I heard the pay was better. I had no training or dreams of ever becoming a singer, but I went for it. I got cut, and rejected from every audition,” Madonna continued. “Then, one day, a French disco sensation was looking for backup singers and dancers for his world tour. I thought, ‘Why not?’ The worst that can happen is I could go back to getting robbed, held at gunpoint and being mistaken for a prostitute in my third-floor walk-up that was also a crack house.”
So . . . that was an unexpected segue. However, Madonna briefly seemed to get back on track; during the audition for the French disco star, she said, she decided to sing “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” because one of her favorite albums was Franklin’s “Lady Soul.”
“I could see that they did not take me seriously. And why should they?” Madonna said. “Some skinny-a– white girl is going to come up here and belt out a song by one of the greatest soul singers that ever lived?”
But the story quickly went off the rails (a full transcript of the speech is below) as it turned into a long anecdote about Madonna getting rejected from the audition, and then going to Paris, and then coming back home to learn to play guitar. Finally, she said: “So, you are probably all wondering why I am telling you this story. 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,” she continued. “And I know she influenced so many people in this house tonight, in this room tonight. And I want to thank you, Aretha, for empowering all of us. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Long live the queen.”
Instead of ending there, Madonna went on with an unrelated anecdote about a wardrobe malfunction at the 1984 VMAs while she was performing “Like a Virgin.” While this seemed to go over well among those in the VMAs audience, many people watching at home were not too happy:
I hope the vmas plan to issue a public apology for allowing Madonna to disrespect Aretha Franklin's legacy like that #VMAs — Kia Kia (@kiiajai) August 21, 2018
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
That was such an awkward tribute to Aretha Franklin. I was hoping Madonna would talk a liiiiiiiitle less about herself and more about Aretha but idk lol 🤦♀️🤷♀️ — Kathleen Lights (@KathleenLights1) August 21, 2018
"If it wasn't for Aretha, we wouldn't have Madonna"- Madonna — Roy Wood Jr- Ex Jedi (@roywoodjr) August 21, 2018
Madonna gave herself a tribute featuring Aretha. — LoveYourself (@ScottieBeam) August 21, 2018
Travis Scott gave a better Aretha Franklin Tribute than Madonna and All he said was RIP Aretha Franklin. #VMAs — Trey Lawrence (@_TreyLawrence) August 21, 2018
When Madonna is supposed to be honoring Aretha Franklin but goes on about her self for 10 mins straight #VMAs pic.twitter.com/Br6I8dknxb — Rachel Magnabosco (@rachel_mag) August 21, 2018
I can’t wait until Aretha gets a REAL tribute at the Soul Train Awards, because that was beyond disrespectful! — Black Effect (@DruDru97) August 21, 2018
. . . and many more. Here’s the transcript of Madonna’s speech:
Aretha Louise Franklin changed the course of my life. I left Detroit when I was 18. $35 in my pocket. My dream was to make it as a professional dancer. After years of struggling and being broke, I decided to go to auditions for musical theater. I heard the pay was better. I had no training or dreams of ever becoming a singer, but I went for it. I got cut, and rejected from every audition. Not tall enough. Not blends-in enough, not 12-octave-range enough, not pretty enough, not enough, enough. And then, one day, a French disco sensation was looking for backup singers and dancers for his world tour. I thought, “Why not?” The worst that can happen is I could go back to getting robbed, held at gunpoint and being mistaken for a prostitute in my third-floor walk-up that was also a crack house. So I showed up for the audition, and two very large French record producers sat in the empty theater, daring me to be amazing. The dance audition went well. Then they asked if I had sheet music and a song prepared. I panicked. I had overlooked this important part of the audition process. I had to think fast. My next meal was on the line. Fortunately, one of my favorite albums was “Lady Soul” by Aretha Franklin. I blurted out, “You Make Me Feel.” Silence. “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” Two French guys nodded at me. I said, “You know, by Aretha Franklin.” Again, “Mmmhmm.” They looked over at the pianist. He shook his head. “I don’t need sheet music,” I said, “I know every word. I know the song by heart, I will sing it a cappella.” I could see that they did not take me seriously. And why should they? Some skinny-a– white girl is going to come up here and belt out a song by one of the greatest soul singers that ever lived? A cappella? I said, “B—-, I’m Madonna.” No, I didn’t. I didn’t say that. ‘Cause I wasn’t Madonna yet. I don’t know who I was. I don’t know what I said. I don’t know what came over me. I walked to the edge of the pitch-black stage, and I started singing. When I was finished and drenched in nerve sweat. Y’all know what this is, right, nerve sweat? They said, “We will call you one day, and maybe soon.” So weeks went by, and no phone call. Finally, the phone rang, and it was one of the producers, saying, [French accent] “We don’t think you are right for this job.” I’m like, “Why are you calling me?” He replied, “We think you have great potentials. You are rough for the edges, but there is good rawness. We want to bring you to Paris and make you a star.” We will put you in a studio . . . it sounded good, and I wanted to live in Paris, and also I wanted to eat some food. So, that was the beginning of my journey as a singer. I left for Paris. But I came back a few months later, because I had not earned the luxury life I was living. It felt wrong. They were good people. But I wanted to write my own songs and be a musician, not a puppet. I needed to go back home and learn to play guitar, and that is exactly what I did. And the rest is history. So, you are probably all wondering why I am telling you this story. 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, in this room tonight. And I want to thank you, Aretha, for empowering all of us. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Long live the queen. Another anecdote I would like to share: In 1984, this is where the first VMAs were, in this very building. I performed at this show. I sang “Like a Virgin” at the top of a cake. On the way down, I lost a shoe, and then I was rolling on the floor. I tried to make it look like it was part of the choreography, looking for the missing stiletto. And my dress flew up and my butt was exposed, and oh my God, quelle horreur. After the show, my manager said my career was over. LOL. So I would now like to present the nominees for the video of the year.
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Read more:
MTV VMAs: 10 things to know, from Jennifer Lopez’s medley to the Ariana Grande-Pete Davidson lovefest
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Aretha Franklin, secret style icon: With the drop of a fur coat, she proclaimed her worth
Madonna’s tribute to the late Aretha Franklin at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) was not about Franklin. Rather, it was about Madonna. Rather than paying respectful homage to Franklin’s impressive life and incomparable legacy, the oft-described Queen of Pop told a series of personal anecdotes relating to her own journey of becoming a world famous star. Sitting through sentences like “I said, bitch, I’m Madonna,”, the audience were expected to eat it up as a touching tribute to the formative effect that Franklin’s music had on Madonna’s own career.
She began with the line, “Aretha Louise Franklin changed the course of my life". It was delivered with feeling, with an air of confidence that indicated the direction that the “tribute” was headed in.
MTV VMAs 2018 – in pictures 45 show all MTV VMAs 2018 – in pictures 1/45 Tiffany Haddish and Kevin Hart present Nicki Minaj with the award for Best Hip Hop Video Getty/MTV 2/45 Madonna speaks during a tribute to the late singer Aretha Franklin Reuters 3/45 Cardi B, Jennifer Lopez, and DJ Khaled accept the award for Best Collaboration Getty Images for MTV 4/45 Ryan Tedder and Logic perform onstage Getty/MTV 5/45 Kevin Hart, left, and Tiffany Haddish present the award best hip-hop video Invision/AP 6/45 Joe Perry and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith perform with Post Malone Getty/MTV 7/45 Rita Ora poses with the award for best dance video for Avicii's "Lonely Together" Invision/AP 8/45 Ariana Grande, second left, performs "God is a woman" Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP 9/45 Maluma performs onstage Getty/MTV 10/45 Keegan-Michael Key and Olivia Munn speak onstage Getty 11/45 ennifer Lopez performs onstage Getty Images for MTV 12/45 Post Malone accepts the award for Song of the Year Getty/MTV 13/45 J Khalid with his family arrive EPA 14/45 Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively perform with The Rockettes Reuters 15/45 US rapper DeJ Loaf AFP/Getty 16/45 Ariana Grande accepts her award for best pop video for "No Tears Left to Cry" Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP 17/45 Maluma performs "Felices los 4." Reuters 18/45 Rita Ora and Sabrina Carpenter speak onstage Getty Images for MTV 19/45 EPA 20/45 Camila Cabello poses in the press room with her awards EPA 21/45 Liam Payne and Shanina Shaik present Willy William with the award for Best Latin Video Getty Images for MTV 22/45 Jennifer Lopez performs Getty Images for MTV 23/45 Alex Rodriguez takes a picture of Jennifer Lopez Reuters 24/45 Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco performs onstage Getty/MTV 25/45 Madonna onstage Getty /MTV 26/45 Lenny Kravitz AFP/Getty 27/45 Sabrina Carpenter, Amandla Stenberg, and Algee Smith speak onstage Getty/MTV 28/45 Cardi B onstage Getty 29/45 Benny Medina speaks during Jennifer Lopez's MTV VMA's Vanguard Award Celebration at Beauty & Essex Getty/TAO Group 30/45 Nicki Minaj holds her award for best hip-hop video AFP/Getty 31/45 Shawn Mendes performs Getty/MTV 32/45 Travis Scott performs Getty Images for MTV 33/45 Nico Tortorella Getty 34/45 Jennifer Lopez accepts the MTV Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award onstage Getty Images for MTV 35/45 Ryan Tedder and Logic perform onstage Getty/MTV 36/45 Blake Lively and director Paul Feig AFP/Getty 37/45 Sherrie Silver accepts the video with a message award on behalf of Childish Gambino Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP 38/45 AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, Howie Dorough, Howie Doroug Getty/MTV 39/45 US rapper Smokepurpp arrives EPA 40/45 Jimmy Fallon speaks onstage Getty/MTV 41/45 Maxwell and Winnie Harlow attend Jennifer Lopez's MTV VMA's Vanguard Award Celebration at Beauty & Essex Getty/TAO Group 42/45 Sky arrives AFP/Getty 43/45 Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco performs onstage Getty/MTV 44/45 Pete Davidson and Ariana Grande arrive EPA 45/45 US rapper Gucci Mane and Jamaican model Keyshia Ka'Oir arrive EPA 1/45 Tiffany Haddish and Kevin Hart present Nicki Minaj with the award for Best Hip Hop Video Getty/MTV 2/45 Madonna speaks during a tribute to the late singer Aretha Franklin Reuters 3/45 Cardi B, Jennifer Lopez, and DJ Khaled accept the award for Best Collaboration Getty Images for MTV 4/45 Ryan Tedder and Logic perform onstage Getty/MTV 5/45 Kevin Hart, left, and Tiffany Haddish present the award best hip-hop video Invision/AP 6/45 Joe Perry and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith perform with Post Malone Getty/MTV 7/45 Rita Ora poses with the award for best dance video for Avicii's "Lonely Together" Invision/AP 8/45 Ariana Grande, second left, performs "God is a woman" Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP 9/45 Maluma performs onstage Getty/MTV 10/45 Keegan-Michael Key and Olivia Munn speak onstage Getty 11/45 ennifer Lopez performs onstage Getty Images for MTV 12/45 Post Malone accepts the award for Song of the Year Getty/MTV 13/45 J Khalid with his family arrive EPA 14/45 Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively perform with The Rockettes Reuters 15/45 US rapper DeJ Loaf AFP/Getty 16/45 Ariana Grande accepts her award for best pop video for "No Tears Left to Cry" Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP 17/45 Maluma performs "Felices los 4." Reuters 18/45 Rita Ora and Sabrina Carpenter speak onstage Getty Images for MTV 19/45 EPA 20/45 Camila Cabello poses in the press room with her awards EPA 21/45 Liam Payne and Shanina Shaik present Willy William with the award for Best Latin Video Getty Images for MTV 22/45 Jennifer Lopez performs Getty Images for MTV 23/45 Alex Rodriguez takes a picture of Jennifer Lopez Reuters 24/45 Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco performs onstage Getty/MTV 25/45 Madonna onstage Getty /MTV 26/45 Lenny Kravitz AFP/Getty 27/45 Sabrina Carpenter, Amandla Stenberg, and Algee Smith speak onstage Getty/MTV 28/45 Cardi B onstage Getty 29/45 Benny Medina speaks during Jennifer Lopez's MTV VMA's Vanguard Award Celebration at Beauty & Essex Getty/TAO Group 30/45 Nicki Minaj holds her award for best hip-hop video AFP/Getty 31/45 Shawn Mendes performs Getty/MTV 32/45 Travis Scott performs Getty Images for MTV 33/45 Nico Tortorella Getty 34/45 Jennifer Lopez accepts the MTV Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award onstage Getty Images for MTV 35/45 Ryan Tedder and Logic perform onstage Getty/MTV 36/45 Blake Lively and director Paul Feig AFP/Getty 37/45 Sherrie Silver accepts the video with a message award on behalf of Childish Gambino Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP 38/45 AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, Howie Dorough, Howie Doroug Getty/MTV 39/45 US rapper Smokepurpp arrives EPA 40/45 Jimmy Fallon speaks onstage Getty/MTV 41/45 Maxwell and Winnie Harlow attend Jennifer Lopez's MTV VMA's Vanguard Award Celebration at Beauty & Essex Getty/TAO Group 42/45 Sky arrives AFP/Getty 43/45 Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco performs onstage Getty/MTV 44/45 Pete Davidson and Ariana Grande arrive EPA 45/45 US rapper Gucci Mane and Jamaican model Keyshia Ka'Oir arrive EPA
Anybody who tuned in will have heard the largely irrelevant tale of how one of Franklin’s songs propelled Madonna to stardom, having chosen to sing “(You Make Me Feel) Like A Natural Woman” during an audition. As out of place as this story is in any kind of tribute to a legendary musician in their own right, it does succeed in showcasing yet another example of white privilege. Madonna continued, “I could see that they 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 who ever lived?”
By pointing out her own whiteness, it seems Madonna attempted to reassure audiences that she knew her place as a dedicated fan. But if that had really been considered, would Madonna have rambled on about herself and her own life for minutes on end instead of talking about Aretha?
Would she have found it appropriate to give a tribute at all, as opposed to giving that platform to a Black artist with more insight into the weight of Aretha’s legacy than she had? So often we see this kind of erasure – white artists allowed to bask in the glory of what Black artists have created – in fact, we saw it with the 2016 tribute to Prince, also given by Madonna whilst donning a purple suit.
White privilege is knowing that something isn’t about you, but using a platform to make it about you anyway. It’s standing on stage at the VMAs with your hair in braids, wearing traditional African clothes that come off as a costume, wearing bangles with the pan-African colours – red, green and yellow – and not considering for a second that any of it is inappropriate.
“She led me to where I am today,” Madonna said in her speech. Every so often, the camera cut to the audience, where celebrities such as Camila Cabello and J-Lo were shown nodding along and clapping.
The obvious inspiration that Franklin had on so many lives is not disputed or even something that I believe should have been left out from Madonna’s tribute – instead, it should have been the underlying message, while stories of Franklin’s own life and decades-long career should have come first. The achievements of Franklin, a Black soul artist who had performed since her young teens in 1950’s America up until just last year, should not have been replaced by stories of another person’s life. Franklin was deserving of her own fully-formed tribute at the VMAs, and that is indisputable.
Ultimately, Madonna’s speech-cum-celebration-of-self that took place at MTV’s award ceremony is disappointing but not surprising. Franklin was but a footnote in the story of Madonna’s life, a means to an end, as she proved in an incredibly ill-advised attempt at honouring an artist so intrinsically important to innumerable Black people and people of colour around the world.
The Queen of Pop was given a platform to talk about the Queen of Soul, and did a disservice to her. It was a story about a Black woman’s songs helping a white woman to achieve her dreams. Travis Scott was the only other artist to mention Franklin at the VMAs, “Rest in peace, the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin,” is all he said. He, as many pointed out on social media, did a much better job. Going forward, we can only hope that more thought goes into public tributes like these. Aretha Franklin deserved so much better.
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