Madonna, the iconic pop star, has made the decision to remove a photo of Luther Vandross from her AIDS tribute during her “Celebration” tour. This move comes after Luther Vandross’s estate clarified that he should not be included in the tribute.
Key Takeaway
Madonna has removed Luther Vandross’s photo from her AIDS tribute after his estate requested its exclusion, showing respect for their wishes.
Tribute to Late Friends
Madonna has been paying tribute to her late friends and famous peers, such as Herb Ritts, Freddie Mercury, and Keith Haring, all of whom passed away due to AIDS-related complications. She does this through a photo montage as she performs “Live to Tell.”
Controversial Inclusion
During a recent tribute at Madonna’s Sacramento concert, a photo of Luther Vandross was included, despite the fact that the R&B singer’s 2005 death was attributed to complications from a prior stroke, not AIDS-related causes.
Estate’s Request
Luther’s estate acknowledged Madonna’s effort to honor those who have lost their lives to AIDS but emphasized that the late soul singer was never diagnosed with AIDS or the HIV virus. They kindly asked Madonna to exclude him from the tribute.
Madonna promptly removed the photo from the tribute after Luther’s estate reached out to her management team, resolving the issue amicably.
Respecting Wishes
While Luther Vandross’s sexuality has been a topic of speculation, his team has made it clear that they do not want the AIDS narrative to be associated with him. Madonna has respected their wishes by removing his photo from the tribute.
