Madonna Honors Luther Vandross Estate Request for AIDS Tribute Removal
Although the singer was never diagnosed with AIDS or HIV, his image appeared in a montage during “Live to Tell” alongside Freddie Mercury, Herb Ritts, and Keith Haring
Madonna‘s Celebration tour takes a moment each night to pay tribute to artists who suffered or died from AIDS. During “Live to Tell,” her 1986 single about persevering through trying times, a montage of images flash across the screen. Among them are photos of Keith Haring, Herb Ritts, and Freddie Mercury, who all battled the disease. Also pictured was Luther Vandross, whose estate requested that Madonna remove from the tribute because he “was NEVER diagnosed with AIDS or the HIV Virus.”
Reps for Madonna have now told Rolling Stone that they’ve taken his photograph out of the memorial.
A rep for Vandross’ estate previously issued a statement saying, “Luther Vandross passed away in 2005 due to complications from a stroke suffered two years earlier. While we appreciate Madonna’s recognition of those lives lost to AIDS, Luther was NEVER diagnosed with AIDS or the HIV Virus. We’re not sure where she or her production team received false medical information claiming otherwise. We’re currently in contact with her management to remove Luther Vandross from the tribute.”
The Celebration tour launched in October 2023, but Vandross’ image was only recently added to the montage, debuting during Madonna’s performance in Sacramento, California on Saturday, Feb. 24.
When the tour kicked off, Elton John shared a statement on social media in support of the tribute. “We’re deeply moved by the heartfelt tribute from @madonna during her Celebration Tour performance of ‘Live to Tell’, honouring the 40.4 million people we’ve lost to AIDS,” the musician wrote on Instagram in a combined statement with his Elton John AIDS Foundation.
The note continued: “Thank you, Madonna, for your advocacy and compassion, and for raising important awareness of the ongoing mission to end AIDS. With 39 million people living with HIV today, 9.4 million of whom are not currently on life-saving treatment, we must keep using our voices and platforms to ensure everyone has the opportunity to live full and healthy lives.”
Although the singer was never diagnosed with AIDS or HIV, his image appeared in a montage during “Live to Tell” alongside Freddie Mercury, Herb Ritts, and Keith Haring
Madonna‘s Celebration tour takes a moment each night to pay tribute to artists who suffered or died from AIDS. During “Live to Tell,” her 1986 single about persevering through trying times, a montage of images flash across the screen. Among them are photos of Keith Haring, Herb Ritts, and Freddie Mercury, who all battled the disease. Also pictured was Luther Vandross, whose estate requested that Madonna remove from the tribute because he “was NEVER diagnosed with AIDS or the HIV Virus.”
Reps for Madonna have now told Rolling Stone that they’ve taken his photograph out of the memorial.
A rep for Vandross’ estate previously issued a statement saying, “Luther Vandross passed away in 2005 due to complications from a stroke suffered two years earlier. While we appreciate Madonna’s recognition of those lives lost to AIDS, Luther was NEVER diagnosed with AIDS or the HIV Virus. We’re not sure where she or her production team received false medical information claiming otherwise. We’re currently in contact with her management to remove Luther Vandross from the tribute.”
The Celebration tour launched in October 2023, but Vandross’ image was only recently added to the montage, debuting during Madonna’s performance in Sacramento, California on Saturday, Feb. 24.
When the tour kicked off, Elton John shared a statement on social media in support of the tribute. “We’re deeply moved by the heartfelt tribute from @madonna during her Celebration Tour performance of ‘Live to Tell’, honouring the 40.4 million people we’ve lost to AIDS,” the musician wrote on Instagram in a combined statement with his Elton John AIDS Foundation.
The note continued: “Thank you, Madonna, for your advocacy and compassion, and for raising important awareness of the ongoing mission to end AIDS. With 39 million people living with HIV today, 9.4 million of whom are not currently on life-saving treatment, we must keep using our voices and platforms to ensure everyone has the opportunity to live full and healthy lives.”
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