Madonna started telling stories about her own early career (like living in a crack house and being mistaken for a prostitute), eventually mentioning Franklin briefly when she recalled singing "(You Make Me Feel) Like a Natural Woman" a cappella at an ultimately unsuccessful audition.
And all of that was while she was wearing a culturally appropriative headdress.
It was a truly bizarre trainwreck to watch, and Twitter isn't letting Madonna get away with the lack of R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
See reactions that range from awe-struck to bewildered to just plain angry below.
@Madonna please have two seats. You couldn't hold the skillet Aretha make cornbread in, You are so self absorbed they have toilet paper with your face on it. I hope Aretha reaches out and slaps you back to Detroit.
— LifesSweetIndulgence (@blk24ktxt2) August 21, 2018
Madonna making Aretha's tribute about herself is honestly an inspiration to Leos everywhere
— Ira (@ira) August 21, 2018
I'm so lost. I thought Madonna was supposed to be paying homage to Aretha but I all heard was her paying homage to herself. HEAVY on the Mayonnaise......
— Charlamagne Tha God (@cthagod) August 21, 2018
Aretha in heaven sitting on her throne looking down at Madonna like Bitch did You die or me?
— D.T. (@Darlene26811165) August 21, 2018
Aretha or Madonna #VMAS pic.twitter.com/L7Ibsu86Xj
Madonna did the tribute speech for Aretha Franklin. Madonna did the tribute performance for Prince. Madonna did the tribute speech for Michael Jackson...why? Who keeps thinking its a good idea to hire Madonna to eulogize Black artists who have passed away?
— LEFT⚫️ (@LeftSentThis) August 21, 2018
Aretha: "What was that....?"
— ithl123 (@ithl123) August 21, 2018
Prince: "Chile, she fucked up mine too." pic.twitter.com/Bxt1dLd8up
Aretha watching Madonna's tribute to her from heaven .... pic.twitter.com/fuMkCCf1AT
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) August 21, 2018
Are you fucking kidding me?!?! WHOEVER LET THAT WHITE WOMAN WITH A GRILL GET UP THERE AND TALK ABOUT HERSELF LIKE A FOOL SHOULD BE SMACKED IN THE FACE WITH A FROZEN STEAK!! THAT WAS A COMPLETE DISGRACE TO ARETHA!!! Ugh. Whyyy Madonna?! WHY?!?!
— Eryn Allen Kane (@ErynAllenKane) August 21, 2018
MTV: We'd like you to give a tribute to Aretha Franklin
— lgreene91 (@lgreene91) August 21, 2018
Madonna: Great, so this is how I got my career started...
MTV: No, no, a tribute to Aretha
Madonna: So I said "bitch, I'm Madonna"
MTV: This isn't about you madge
Madonna: Look at my African jewelry #VMAs
Sooo playing Aretha's songs during the ending credits and having Madonna dressed as a witch doctor while talking about herself was the tribute ? #VMAs pic.twitter.com/kYtKOl52Y8
— They Call Me Ari (@Kissma_Ars) August 21, 2018
did Madonna just had the audacity to culturally appropriate clothing of the berber tribe of North Africa/Morocco omg??? #Madonna pic.twitter.com/p7OMzhTBHf
— Josephine ★ ♎🌙 (@Danbaishi) August 21, 2018
#VMAs #Madonna
— Christopher Wolfe (@ChrisMWolfe) August 21, 2018
Did she pay hair & makeup and a "stylist" for this? Did she collide with a wind chime? I don't get it. pic.twitter.com/2wfojmoniY
Madonna dressing up as my ancestors at the vma's lmaooooo did she find out she's 1% moroccan? pic.twitter.com/eXc8p7H8Fa
— princeMONONOKE (@futuresfirst) August 21, 2018