Madonna, who has done tributes to Prince and Michael Jackson at various award shows, paid homage Monday night at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards to the late Aretha Franklin _ by telling her own story. During, um, the presentation for video of the year.
That's right _ Madonna's story. Not Franklin's.
Confusing? Many thought it was simply disrespectful. "Does Madonna know Madonna didn't die," someone quipped on Twitter.
The Material Girl spent a good long time Monday night talking about herself, including her journey out of Detroit to New York City at age 18, through professional dance aspirations and musical-theater attempts, through living in a crack house to the things that resulted in her becoming a singer.
Those things included, thank goodness, singing a song from Franklin, "one of the greatest soul singers that ever lived," at an audition for some French music execs.
Madonna then apparently remembered Franklin had died Thursday.
"You're probably all wondering why I'm telling you this story," Madonna said, saying what many people were likely thinking. "There's a connection."
Phew.
"None of this would have happened, could have happened, without our lady of soul," she said, suddenly adopting the British-ish accent she uses periodically. "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."
Then came an anecdote about losing a shoe and rolling on the floor and showing her butt onstage during her first VMAs appearance in 1984. Which had absolutely nothing to do with anyone but Madonna.
(There were nine words at the beginning of the "remembrance" when Madonna talked about Franklin as well. Three of those words were the late singer's first, middle and last names.)
Something the folks running the show should have remembered? Madonna's Michael Jackson tribute at the 2009 VMAs was kinda full of Madonna as well.
"Michael Jackson was born in August 1958. So was I," she said. "Michael Jackson grew up in the suburbs of the Midwest. So did I. Michael Jackson had eight brothers and sisters. So do I. When Michael Jackson was 6, he became a superstar, and was perhaps the world's most beloved child. When I was 6, my mother died ... ."
There's more, of course, but you get the idea.
Oh, yeah _ also on Monday night, the award for video of the year went to Camila Cabello for "Havana." Eventually.
