Madonna Responds To Critics Of Her Aretha Franklin Tribute At VMAs

Madonna has responded to critics of her tribute to the late Aretha Franklin at last night’s MTV VMAs.

During a segment of the award show, Madonna takes a moment to remember the late queen of soul Aretha Franklin. The pop legend was presenting Video of the Year which Camila Cabello won. She is now saying that she was not supposed to give a tribute to Aretha at that moment, but was asked to do so, so she did her best in the two minute allotted time.

“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!” Madonna wrote. “I shared a part of my journey and thanked Aretha for inspiring me along the way. I did not intend to do a tribute to her! That would be impossible in 2 minutes with all the noise and tinsel of an award show.”

Madonna added that she could not do the queen of soul any justice by giving a tribute in two minutes, so she merely paid her respect. “I could never do her justice in this context or environment,” she added. “Unfortunately most people have short attention spans, and are so quick to judge. I love Aretha! R.E.S.P.E.C.T. I Love Camilla! Congrats! I LOVE my dress! AND. I love-L O V E!! and there is nothing anyone can say or do that will change that. #vmas #postivevibes”

View this post on Instagram
Im with the Winner!! The beautiful @camila_cabello ! So proud of her! ???. And just to clarify: 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! I shared a part of my journey and thanked Aretha for inspiring me along the way. I did not intend to do a tribute to her! That would be impossible in 2 minutes with all the noise and tinsel of an award show. I could never do her justice in this context or environment. Unfortunately most people have short attention spans, and are so quick to judge. I love Aretha! R.E.S.P.E.C.T. ??. I Love Camilla! Congrats! I LOVE my dress! AND. I love-L O V E!! ?? and there is nothing anyone can say or do that will change that. #vmas #postivevibes
A post shared by Madonna (@madonna) on Aug 21, 2018 at 9:23am PDT

Aretha Franklin died last week at the age of 76 following a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

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

Me: It's weird that #Madonna is doing a tribute to Aretha Franklin, but what's the worst that could happen?
Madonna: pic.twitter.com/DvfueYKgCu
— Brittany Stephanis (@bmstephanis) 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

Sooo playing Aretha’s songs during the ending credits and having Madonna dressed as a witch doctor while talking about herself was the tribute ? #VMAs pic.twitter.com/kYtKOl52Y8
— Choi Coco (@KetoG7) August 21, 2018

Enough?? Be mad at me if you want. But, we as a nation … must stop letting #Madonna do the tributes to great black music legends. First there was that Billboard debacle to Prince. And NOW … Madonna babbling about Madonna, in that faux #MTVVMAS “#Aretha tribute”. #nomore ?
— Arsenio Hall (@ArsenioHall) August 21, 2018

Madonna made Aretha Franklin's death about herself and her own musical journey, and honestly, this is some of the whitest shit I have ever seen. #VMAs
— Evette Dionne ????? (@freeblackgirl) August 21, 2018

Prince is up there telling Aretha she effed my tribute up too!! #Aretha or Madonna pic.twitter.com/AUdiDpOMBN
— Michele DeMino (@CheleDeMino) August 21, 2018