Madonna must’ve thought she was on to something with her latest tributes, but Luther Vandross’s team was like ‘Nah boo, think again.’ What had happened was Madonna’s recent attempt to pay tribute to the Luther during her “Celebration” tour has just been shut all the way down by his estate.
While Madonna’s intention was sincere, it seems that the inclusion of Vandross in her AIDS/HIV tribute was clearly not appropriate.
Madonna has made it a point to honor her late friends and famous peers who lost their lives to AIDS/HIV-related complications, such as Herb Ritts, Freddie Mercury, and Keith Haring. However, during her Sacramento concert, she oddly included a photo of Luther Vandross in the montage, despite the fact that his death in 2005 was attributed to complications from a prior stroke, not AIDS, nor HIV.
Ya’ see…Luther was never diagnosed with AIDS or the HIV virus. His estate clarified this fact to Page Six, and kindly requested Madonna to exclude him from the tribute, stating “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.”
It’s understandable why they would not want the AIDS/HIV narrative to be attached to his legacy. Even Luther, himself would’ve been pissed…just as he was when a British magazine once tried to attribute his weight loss the AIDS/HIV virus back in the ’80s.
Also, while Luther’s sexuality has been speculated upon throughout the years, he never publicly identified as anything other than heterosexual. However, close friends, such as Patti LaBelle, have commented on the possibility that he may have been part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Even though Madonna’s inclusion of Luther in her AIDS/HIV tribute was a tad weird, it’s commendable that she has respected the wishes of Luther’s estate and removed the photo from the tribute.
While Madonna’s dedication to honoring those who have passed away is admirable, it’s vital to ensure that the tributes get the facts straight.
Let’s hope that this incident serves as a reminder to all about the importance of research, respect, and accuracy when discussing such delicate subjects.
In the end, Madonna’s intentions were good, but sometimes it’s better to double-check the facts and seek input from those closest to the individuals being honored.
