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Madonna hits back at Aretha Franklin criticism: It wasnt meant to be a tribute

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Madonna received a whole heap of backlash for her VMAs speech (Picture: Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

Madonna has blasted critics who said she made her Aretha Franklin tribute all about her.

Madonna was heavily criticised online after she used her VMAs speech, which initially appeared to be a tribute to the late Aretha Franklin, to talk about herself.

She regaled viewers with how she left her home in Detroit to try and make it in New York as a teen, with only tenuous references to the Queen Of Soul throughout her speech as the entire soliloquy being hinged on an audition where Madonna sang an Aretha song. It was thought it had been an official tribute, and fans were seriously angry .

But Madge has taken to Instagram to hit back at the backlash, explaining it wasnt an official tribute after all, and that shed been asked by MTV to talk about herself.

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Uploading a shot of her and Camila Cabello, she wrote: Im with the Winner!! The beautiful @camila_cabello ! So proud of her! (sic)

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.

She added it wasnt an official tribute: 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.

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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! I love my dress! AND. I love-L O V E!! and there is nothing anyone can say or do that will change that.

She ended with the hashtag #postivevibes, and that was that.

It was met with a mixed response, with some calling her a Queen, while others branded her selfish.

One pointed out shed chosen to post her explanation without a picture of Aretha.

Youre still doing it wrong! they wrote. If you wanna talk about the queen of soul here use her own picture and not a picture of you and Camilla. And yes you made the whole speech about yourself. RESPECT that queen without her theres no music.

Madonna had given the speech ahead of presenting Camila Cabello with the video of the year award.

After her win, an excited Camila tweeted her past self, saying: Youre not gonna believe this smol Camila but in 2018 Madonna is going to give you an award for video of the year and your acne will clear.

YOURE NOT GONNA BELIEVE THIS SMOL CAMILA BUT: IN 2018 MADONNA IS GOING TO GIVE YOU AN AWARD FOR VIDEO OF THE YEAR AND YOUR ACNE WILL CLEAR https://t.co/H8IbhaA2EO

— camila (@Camila_Cabello) August 21, 2018

MTV VMAs 2018 winners

Video of the year

Ariana Grande – No Tears Left to Cry

Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – Finesse (Remix)

Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – Havana – WINNER

The Carters – APES**T

Childish Gambino – This Is America

Drake – Gods Plan

Artist of the year

Ariana Grande

Bruno Mars

Camila Cabello – WINNER

Cardi B

Drake

Post Malone

Song of the year

Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – Finesse (Remix)

Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – Havana

Drake – Gods Plan

Dua Lipa – New Rules

Ed Sheeran – Perfect

Post Malone ft. 21 Savage – rockstar – WINNER

Best new artist

Bazzi

Cardi B – WINNER

Chloe x Halle

Hayley Kiyoko

Lil Pump

Lil Uzi Vert

Best collaboration

Bebe Rexha ft. Florida Georgia Line – Meant to Be

Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – Finesse (Remix)

The Carters – APES**T

Jennifer Lopez ft. DJ Khaled & Cardi B – Dinero – WINNER

Logic ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid – 1-800-273-8255

N.E.R.D & Rihanna – Lemon

Push artist of the year

JULY 2018 – Chloe x Halle

JUNE 2018 – Sigrid

MAY 2018 – Lil Xan

APRIL 2018 – Hayley Kiyoko – WINNER

MARCH 2018 – Jessie Reyez

FEBRUARY 2018 – Tee Grizzley

JANUARY 2018 – Bishop Briggs

DECEMBER 2017 – Grace VanderWaal

NOVEMBER 2017 – Why Dont We

OCTOBER 2017 – PRETTYMUCH

SEPTEMBER 2017 – SZA

AUGUST 2017 – Kacy Hill

JULY 2017 – Khalid

JUNE 2017 – Kyle

MAY 2017 – Noah Cyrus

Best pop

Ariana Grande – No Tears Left to Cry – WINNER

Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – Havana

Demi Lovato – Sorry Not Sorry

Ed Sheeran – Perfect

P!nk – What About Us

Shawn Mendes – In My Blood

Best hip hop

Cardi B ft. 21 Savage – Bartier Cardi

The Carters – APES**T

Drake – Gods Plan

J. Cole – ATM

Migos ft. Drake – Walk It Talk It

Nicki Minaj – Chun-Li – WINNER

Best latin

Daddy Yankee – Dura

J Balvin, Willy William – Mi Gente – WINNER

Jennifer Lopez ft. DJ Khaled & Cardi B – Dinero

Luis Fonsi, Demi Lovato – Échame La Culpa

Maluma – Felices los 4

Shakira ft. Maluma – Chantaje

Best dance

Avicii ft. Rita Ora – Lonely Together – WINNER

Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa – One Kiss

The Chainsmokers – Everybody Hates Me

David Guetta & Sia – Flames

Marshmello ft. Khalid – Silence

Zedd & Liam Payne – Get Low (Street Video)

Best rock

Fall Out Boy – Champion

Foo Fighters – The Sky Is A Neighborhood

Imagine Dragons – Whatever It Takes – WINNER

Linkin Park – One More Light

Panic! At The Disco – Say Amen (Saturday Night)

Thirty Seconds to Mars – Walk On Water

Video with a message

Childish Gambino – This Is America – WINNER

Dej Loaf and Leon Bridges – Liberated

Drake – Gods Plan

Janelle Monáe – PYNK

Jessie Reyez – Gatekeeper

Logic ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid – 1-800-273-8255

Best cinematography

Alessia Cara – Growing Pains

Ariana Grande – No Tears Left to Cry

The Carters – APES**T – WINNER

Childish Gambino – This Is America

Eminem ft. Ed Sheeran – River

Shawn Mendes – In My Blood

Best direction

The Carters – APES**T

Childish Gambino – This Is America – WINNER

Drake – Gods Plan

Ed Sheeran – Perfect

Justin Timberlake ft. Chris Stapleton – Say Something

Shawn Mendes – In My Blood

Best art direction

The Carters – APES**T – WINNER

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 ft. Beyoncé – Walk On Water

Kendrick Lamar & SZA – All The Stars – WINNER

Maroon 5 – Wait

Taylor Swift – Look What You Made Me Do

Best choreography

Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – Finesse (Remix)

Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – Havana

The Carters – APES**T

Childish Gambino – This Is America – WINNER

Dua Lipa – IDGAF

Justin Timberlake – Filthy

Best editing

Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – Finesse (Remix)

The Carters – APES**T

Childish Gambino – This Is America

Janelle Monáe – Make Me Feel

N.E.R.D & Rihanna – Lemon – WINNER

Taylor Swift – Look What You Made Me Do

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