Happy 64th Birthday Madonna! The pop legend still does not look her age and act with a carefree attitude of ten teeangers combined, it's just amazing. Of course, her wild ways did land her in trouble several times, enough to almost kill her career at one point or another - but here she remains!
Relive these five moments that people actually believed Madonna is done for but was proven wrong!
Showing Off Her Butt at MTV VMAS 1984
During her appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the 63-year-old performer remembered a 1980s awards show performance that nearly derailed her career.
Madonna claimed in her interview that she was informed her career was ended following a wardrobe malfunction at her debut MTV Video Music Awards performance in 1984, where she performed "Like a Virgin."
"I don't know why they chose 'Like A Virgin' because I thought it was quite controversial," Madonna said. "It turned out that the controversial thing wasn't the song itself but my performance at the MTV Awards, the first MTV Awards." Madonna explained that when she reached the bottom of the stage and began dancing, her white stiletto pumps slipped off, causing her dress to flip up and exposing her butt when she stooped down to retrieve them.
Madonna remarked, "Those were the days when you couldn't expose your butt if you wanted a career." "Now the contrary is true... I had no idea my butt was showing!"
Madonna stated that once she exited the stage following the performance, her manager informed her backstage that her "career was dead."
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Madonna Kissing a Black Saint
In 1989, Madonna released a video for "Like A Prayer" that had contentious imagery. Imagine white extremists murdering a woman, burning crosses, and Madonna kissing a Black saint.
Religious groups were upset, and Pepsi, for whom Madonna was a spokesperson at the time, removed her from their advertisements.
Bisexual Orgy Banned by MTV
If "Like A Prayer" was problematic, then "Justify My Love" escalated the situation. The video, which was published at the end of 1990, depicted a graphic bisexual orgy, which was not typical at the time. The song remained at the top of the charts for two weeks despite being banned by MTV.
Making David Letterman and His Fans Uncomfortable
Madonna was able to make David Letterman slightly uneasy in 1994 despite the fact that he is not easily perturbed. Madonna responded to Letterman's question on her sexual life by calling him a "sick f**k" and then launched into a 20-minute diatribe that was hardly G-rated. She even told Letterman to smell her underpants at one point.
Being Affixed to a Cross
During her "Confessions" tour, religious symbolism was also evident. Madonna performed "Live to Tell" while affixed to a mirrored crucifix and wearing a crown of thorns. Religious leaders were angry, and Madge had to clarify that it was not done to ridicule the church. Not many believed her, but her career stayed.
Bonus: For Being Disrespectful During "12 Years of Slave" Screening?
In 2013, Madonna was ejected from the Alamo Drafthouse for texting during a screening of 12 Years Of Slave. Two years later, she sat in the front row at Hamilton and texted throughout the whole performance, forcing Lin-Manuel Miranda to ban her from future performances.
There you have it -- Madonna proving with her entire career how negative comments and perceptions cannot really ruin a career of a truly good artist. She's never been cocky of how she got away with things though, she apologizes when necessary. But when it comes to talent and career, if you have it - you have it!
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