After a widely criticized tribute to the late Prince at Sunday night's Billboard Music Awards, Madonna seems to be responding to backlash on social media.
The Huffington Post reported that Madonna, who sang a medley of Prince songs and brought out Stevie Wonder for the "Purple Rain" finale, shared moments from the performance as well.
An Epic Moment for Me to sing in honor of Prince with Stevie Wonder☔️💜☔️💜🙏🏻. #luckiestgirlintheworld pic.twitter.com/69uGQT7ygi
— Madonna (@Madonna) May 23, 2016
His Purple Heart was there in spirit. Long may He Reign! 💜☔️👑 pic.twitter.com/o8fb8Cq6Fh
— Madonna (@Madonna) May 23, 2016
Her response to critics came in an Instagram post:
Questlove, who introduced the tribute, also shared his thoughts in a Twitter thread, some of which is below:
because of P's well known love for the *poof* vanishing act. A lot of us are left feeling incomplete in the act of saying goodbye.
— Questlove from @SongsThatShook Oct 13th @AMC_tv (@questlove) May 23, 2016
For starters it's hard to accept him no longer being here. & in the upcoming award season for '17 there will be a gang of tributes
— Questlove from @SongsThatShook Oct 13th @AMC_tv (@questlove) May 23, 2016
Naturally there will be folded arms & shade thrown because the Purple Standard is hard boots to fill & a lot of us don't wanna come 2 grips
— Questlove from @SongsThatShook Oct 13th @AMC_tv (@questlove) May 23, 2016
Related: Madonna tackles Prince tribute, Twitter, BET are not very impressed
So I know there is gonna be ALOT of "feel a certain ways" about who you want to see do his music justice---but you gotta put that aside yall
— Questlove from @SongsThatShook Oct 13th @AMC_tv (@questlove) May 23, 2016
And EVERYBODY wants and deserves a chance to say goodbye in their own way. But remember: there will be AMAs, SoulTrain, NAACP, mtv, GRAMMYS
— Questlove from @SongsThatShook Oct 13th @AMC_tv (@questlove) May 23, 2016
And a gazillion other tributes. But the point is let's not get ugly w playing the "Prince would and wouldn't approve" game.
— Questlove from @SongsThatShook Oct 13th @AMC_tv (@questlove) May 23, 2016
Questlove made a point to say that much of what he tweeted was not solely about the Billboard Awards tribute, adding that he has been in conversations about who should and should not be involved in other aspects of Prince's legacy, like memorials and other tributes.
....& this isn't *just about* the Madge/Stevie tribute btw
— Questlove from @SongsThatShook Oct 13th @AMC_tv (@questlove) May 23, 2016
I've been gettin earfuls from in/outside the Purple Circle concerning inclu/exclusions of his estate/work/memorials/tributes who in who not.
— Questlove from @SongsThatShook Oct 13th @AMC_tv (@questlove) May 23, 2016
The next award show expected to have a Prince tribute is hosted by BET, and the network teased that it will be better than the Billboard Awards' effort.
Cox Media Group