Madonna has defended her performance at the Billboard Music Awards over the weekend, when she paid tribute to Prince.
At the ceremony in Las Vegas, Madonna sang ‘Nothing Compares 2U’ before she was joined by Stevie Wonder for a version of Purple Rain.
The performance was mocked on social media, as well as by rival music ceremony the BET Awards, who promoted their own forthcoming Prince tribute with a tweet stating: “Yeah, we saw that. Don’t worry. We got you.” The only confirmed performance at the BET ceremony is a Britney Spears medley.
Hitting back at critics, Madonna said on Instagram: “Anyone who wants to do a Prince tribute is welcome to, whatever your age, gender or skin colour. If you loved him and he inspired you, then show it. I love Prince 4 ever.”
She then added a second Instagram post stating: “This my ‘I’m not your bitch, don’t hang your shit on me’ dance.”
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Prince and Madonna were known to be friends, and duetted together on ‘Love Song’ on Madonna’s 1989 album ‘Like A Prayer’. It was rumoured following Prince’s death in April that the pair had been planning a joint world tour, though this has yet to be confirmed.
Madonna finished the six-month tour for her ‘Rebel Heart’ album in March, with the Sydney shows filmed for an upcoming DVD and live album.