Opinion
29 May 20

Madonna mocked for "clueless" George Floyd tribute video

Currently wondering what planet Madonna thinks she's on.

Madonna has posted a video tribute to George Floyd, who was killed Monday by a police officer in Minneapolis. Amidst riots and calls for a murder charge, the 'Material Girl' singer posted a video she filmed of her son David dancing to Michael Jackson's 'They Don't Really Care About Us'.

No doubt meant to be heartfelt, the caption read on the video reads: “Brutal murder travels around the world my son David Dances to honor and pay tribute to George and His Family and all Acts of Racism and Discrimination that happen on a daily basis in America.”

The post, which is being criticised as at best clueless and at worst willfully ignorant, has been widely deemed as performative since it crashed onto Instagram on Thursday (May 28). The point being made is that it effectively proves the very point that Jackson was making in the song. There have also been comments implying that, in any event, Michael Jackson is a strange choice to make in the context. If you'd like to donate to the Minnesota Freedom Fund, you can do so here.

View this post on Instagram

brutal murder travels around the world my son David Dances to honor and pay tribute to George and His Family and all Acts of Racism and Discrimination that happen on a daily basis in America. #davidbanda #JusticeforGeorgeFloyd #MichaelJackson

A post shared by Madonna (@madonna) on May 28, 2020 at 6:58am PDT

The reactions, which you can peruse below, are as vicious as one might expect on social media.

The unsung hero of the video of Madonna’s son is the dog. Even he’s looking like “what the entire f*ck??” #madonna pic.twitter.com/lNDYTGJ27R

— Miss Valdosta Feed & Grain (@ValdostaMiss) May 29, 2020