Madonna slammed after sharing 'insensitive' tribute following George Floyd's death
Following the death of George Floyd, social media was flooded with tributes for the 46-year-old who was held down by a police officer's knee for nine minutes.
He passed out on the ground after pleas to be released, saying he couldn’t breathe, and was later pronounced dead in hospital.
Now, Madonna has taken to Twitter to share her own tribute to George, however, it's getting attention for all the wrong reasons.
The 61-year-old shared a video of her son David Banda, 14, dancing to Michael Jackson's They Don't Really Care About Us.
She captioned the video: "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."
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 pic.twitter.com/wLa6YKrYF1
— Madonna (@Madonna) May 28, 2020
Twitter users quickly began mocking the well-intentioned video, with one person writing: "Wow. Racism is gone. Thank you girl."
Another sarcastically added: "Thank you so much. I’m so glad he was able to stomp out racism with this deeply moving tribute. Y’all’s hard work and sacrifice to the cause...how can we ever repay you?"
Someone else wrote: "I felt so uncomfortable watching this."
Wow. Racism is gone. Thank you girl.
— . (@unbotheredbliss) May 28, 2020
Thank you so much. I’m so glad he was able to stomp out racism with this deeply moving tribute. Y’all’s hard work and sacrifice to the cause...how can we ever repay you?
— call gunna if you want you a birkin (@KiaSpeaks) May 28, 2020
I felt so uncomfortable watching this. pic.twitter.com/lJ9tsxMxdb
— This you? (@notavatarcmoney) May 28, 2020
This is trash, and deeply disrespectful.
If you want to actually do something to help combat racism and oppression, donate to the Minnesota Freedom Fund to help pay the bail of protestors in Minneapolis.https://t.co/D0yDUAhtdK— Frederick Joseph (@FredTJoseph) May 29, 2020
@Madonna, girl.
Good intentions but completely tone deaf. Dancing away the racism of murderous cops won’t actually do anything. But thanks for trying!— Hollywood Larry (@HollyLarry) May 29, 2020
A bit insensitive as you’re a person with a platform to voice their concern, you should be doing a lot more... having your adopted black son dance ain’t going to force change to happen
— peter myles (@bluntnigglet) May 28, 2020
However, the comments on the same video on Instagram were much more positive with one user writing: "I looooove this!" Another said, "So good David."
"So talented... so beautiful,” another person added.
The four officers involved in the arrest of George Floyd were sacked after a video of the incident went viral. The FBI has been called to investigate the matter.
Philonise Floyd, George's brother has described him to CNN as a "gentle giant" who wouldn't "hurt anybody".
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