Madonna has been blasted for making her MTV VMAs tribute to Aretha Franklin about herself.
The Queen Of Pop appeared on stage during the closing moments of the show to pay tribute to the soul legend, who died last Thursday, on what was coincidentally Madonna’s 60th birthday.
However, fans called out the lengthy speech for not actually being much about Aretha.
While Madonna began by revealing the Queen Of Soul had “changed the course” of her life, she then went on to give a speech about her own journey into the music business.
She detailed a story of where she sang Aretha’s ‘(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman’ at an audition where she’d forgotten to bring her sheet music with her, and blew away the two men in the room who didn’t believe “some skinny-ass white girl” could “belt out a song by one of the greatest soul singers that ever lived”.
While the audition didn’t result in big things for Madge, she noted how Aretha had “led me to where I am today”.
She finished off my saying: “I want to thank you, Aretha, for empowering all of us. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Long live the queen.”
For many, Madonna’s words did not hit the right note, and she faced a barrage of criticism on social media:
Aretha died last Thursday following a long fight with advanced pancreatic cancer, at the age of 76.
While Madonna’s tribute may not have gone down well, other famous names including Carole King, Elton John, Ricky Martin and Liam Gallagher were among those who shared their sadness at her death last week.
Her family has since announced details of a public viewing of her body for fans to pay tribute, before she is laid to rest after a private funeral on 31 August.
They said they had “lost the matriarch and rock” of their family in a statement issued via her publicist.
“In one of the darkest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our heart,” they said.
“We have lost the matriarch and rock of our family. The love she had for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins knew no bounds.”
Video of the Year:
Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry”
Bruno Mars – “Finesse (Remix)” [ft. Cardi B]
WINNER: Camila Cabello – “Havana” [ft. Young Thug]
The Carters – “APES**T”
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Drake – “God’s Plan”
Artist of the Year:
Ariana Grande
Bruno Mars
WINNER: Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Drake
Post Malone
Song of the Year:
Bruno Mars – “Finesse (Remix)” [ft. Cardi B]
Camila Cabello – “Havana” [ft. Young Thug]
Drake – “God’s Plan”
Dua Lipa – “New Rules”
Ed Sheeran – “Perfect”
WINNER: Post Malone – “rockstar” [ft. 21 Savage]
Best New Artist:
Bazzi
WINNER: Cardi B
Chloe x Halle
Hayley Kiyoko
Lil Pump
Lil Uzi Vert
Best Collaboration:
Bebe Rexha ft. Florida Georgia Line – “Meant to Be”
Bruno Mars – “Finesse (Remix)” [ft. Cardi B]
The Carters – “APES**T”
WINNER: Jennifer Lopez – “Dinero” [ft. DJ Khaled & Cardi B]
Logic – “1-800-273-8255” [ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid]
N.E.R.D – “Lemon” [ft. Rihanna]
Best Pop Video:
WINNER: Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry”
Camila Cabello – “Havana” [ft. Young Thug]
Demi Lovato – “Sorry Not Sorry”
Ed Sheeran – “Perfect”
P!nk – “What About Us”
Shawn Mendes – “In My Blood”
Best Hip Hop Video:
Cardi B – “Bartier Cardi” [ft. 21 Savage]
The Carters – “APES**T”
Drake – “God’s Plan”
J. Cole – “ATM”
Migos – “Walk It Talk It” [ft. Drake]
WINNER: Nicki Minaj – “Chun-Li”
Best Dance Video:
WINNER: Avicii – “Lonely Together” [ft. Rita Ora]
Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa – “One Kiss”
The Chainsmokers – “Everybody Hates Me”
David Guetta & Sia – “Flames”
Marshmello – “Silence” [ft. Khalid]
Zedd & Liam Payne – “Get Low (Street Video)”
Best Latin Video:
Daddy Yankee – “Dura”
WINNER: J Balvin – “Mi Gente” [ft. Willy William]
Jennifer Lopez – “Dinero” [ft. DJ Khaled & Cardi B]
Luis Fonsi – “Échame La Culpa” [ft. Demi Lovato]
Maluma – “Felices los 4”
Shakira – “Chantaje” [ft. Maluma]
Best Rock Video:
Fall Out Boy – “Champion”
Foo Fighters – “The Sky Is A Neighborhood”
WINNER: Imagine Dragons – “Whatever It Takes”
Linkin Park – “One More Light”
Panic! at the Disco – “Say Amen (Saturday Night)”
Thirty Seconds to Mars – “Walk On Water”
Video With a Message:
WINNER: Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Dej Loaf and Leon Bridges – “Liberated”
Drake – “God’s Plan”
Janelle Monáe – “PYNK”
Jessie Reyez – “Gatekeeper”
Logic – “1-800-273-8255” [ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid]
Best Cinematography:
Alessia Cara – “Growing Pains”
Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry”
WINNER: The Carters – “APES**T”
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Eminem – “River” [ft. Ed Sheeran]
Shawn Mendes – “In My Blood”
Best Direction:
The Carters – “APES**T”
WINNER: Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Drake – “God’s Plan”
Ed Sheeran – “Perfect”
Justin Timberlake – “Say Something” [ft. Chris Stapleton]
Shawn Mendes – “In My Blood”
Best Art Direction:
WINNER: The Carters – “APES**T”
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
J. Cole – “ATM”
Janelle Monáe – “Make Me Feel”
SZA – “The Weekend”
Taylor Swift – “Look What You Made Me Do”Best Visual Effects:
Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry”
Avicii ft. Rita Ora – “Lonely Together”
Eminem – “Walk On Water” [ft. Beyoncé]
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “All The Stars”
Maroon 5 – “Wait”
Taylor Swift – “Look What You Made Me Do”
Best Choreography:
Bruno Mars – “Finesse (Remix)” [ft. Cardi B]
Camila Cabello – “Havana” [ft. Young Thug]
The Carters – “APES**T”
WINNER: Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Dua Lipa – “IDGAF”
Justin Timberlake – “Filthy”
Best Editing:
Bruno Mars – “Finesse (Remix)” [ft. Cardi B]
The Carters – “APES**T”
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Janelle Monáe – “Make Me Feel”
WINNER: N.E.R.D – “Lemon” [ft. Rihanna]
Taylor Swift – “Look What You Made Me Do”
Push Artist of the Year:
July 2018 – Chloe x Halle
June 2018 – Sigrid
May 2018 – Lil Xan
WINNER: April 2018 – Hayley Kiyoko
March 2018 – Jessie Reyez
February 2018 – Tee Grizzley
January 2018 – Bishop Briggs
December 2017 – Grace VanderWaal
November 2017 – Why Don’t We
October 2017 – PRETTYMUCH
September 2017 – SZA
August 2017 – Kacy Hill
July 2017 – Khalid
June 2017 – Kyle
May 2017 – Noah Cyrus
Song of Summer:
Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa – “One Kiss”
WINNER: Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin – “I Like It”
DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper & Quavo – “No Brainer”
Drake – “In My Feelings”
Ella Mai – “Boo’d Up”
Juice WRLD – “Lucid Dreams”
Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B – “Girls Like You”
Post Malone – “Better Now”
Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award
Jennifer Lopez