Madonna says she was being 'ironic' calling Obama a Muslim

Pop star Madonna said on Tuesday she was being deliberately 'ironic on stage' when she erroneously referred to President Barack Obama during her concert in the nation's capital as a 'black Muslim.'
A video clip posted on YouTube by audience members at the Verizon Center in downtown Washington captured the 54-year-old singer delivering a rousing, profanity-laced political speech about freedom during her show on Monday.
'Now, it's so amazing and incredible to think that we have an African-American in the White House...we have a black Muslim in the White House...it means there is hope in this country, and Obama is fighting for gay rights, so support the man,' Madonna said.
Obama, campaigning to be re-elected on November 6, is widely known to be a practicing Christian.
Responding to a media furore unleashed by the YouTube video, Madonna issued a statement on Tuesday through her spokeswoman saying her reference to Obama's religion was facetious.
'I was being ironic on stage. Yes, I know Obama is not a Muslim - though I know that plenty of people in this country think he is. And what if he were?'
'The point I was making is that a good man is a good man, no matter who he prays to. I don't care what religion Obama is - nor should anyone else in America,' she said.
Since Obama's first presidential run in 2008, fringe groups and a smattering of opponents have espoused rumours that he is secretly a Muslim, similar to persistent but unfounded assertions by some political foes that he was born outside the United States.
Madonna has been outspoken in her support of the president, going so far as to rip off her shirt during recent concerts to reveal the word 'OBAMA' inked across her lower back.

From Reuters Via Yahoo! News

Comments

[Steve (NYC)]

@TRUTH: Maybe you could try writing coherently, using some basic grammar, and not shouting (CAPITALS). Then, perhaps, your argument/comment may carry more weight.

[ngl]

@Truth Be Told- Congratulations, you have finally made it- now what is it that you are so clearly dying to say about Madonna?? So far you have demonstrated little ability to express an opinion about Madonna- either good, bad or indifferent.

[Liz]

It was clearly meant to be taken at face value unless the "amazing" "hope for this country" comments that followed were also a joke.

[Jeffrey]

Everyone knows Obama is a (kind of) Protestant, I believe his father was a Muslim...and Madonna knows this for sure. She's just stirring things up as always...it's in her personality and it's part of her image to tease and provoke.

I didn't really get it either at first..then I thinking it over, I did. I find that the whole muslim remark was a little far-fetched. But that's ok. It's human nature. And she doesn't give A F. ;) Neither do I. She always gives explanations to her actions because people don't understand it. It's always been like that. I personally don't understand that at this point in her life, she still feels the need to respond to criticism..but it's for sure a sign of respect to the press and her audience.

In case you've never seen this: Look up "madonna omnibus interview" on youtube. It's a great interview, I believe from the Erotic era. It's Madonna being very beautiful(her lips where a little swollen..but don't mention it..), intelligent and ironic. She even talks about always wanting to be ironic, in order to provoke change and make people think. It makes me feel good, motivated etc., listening to her in this interview.

[Truth Be Told]

Why are ngl's negatively laced comments always allowed but mine are never approved?

What kind of moderation is this??

My god.

Would madonna like this censorship?

[Liz]

"For better or worse, alright?..."

I think it's funny. If this is even a full throated endorsement his own "supporters" know the truth, no matter how they try to cover it up. Reading between the lines, Madonna doesn't expect him to win and this isn't a statement of support for anything but gay marriage.

[ngl]

@TRUTH- We can be Madonna fans, while at the same time we don't have to blindly agree with everything she says or does! I, like most Madonna fans, am a free thinking individual. Oh, Truth- clearly YOU can't HANDLE the TRUTH!

[Tommy]

If you have to explain you're being ironic, then you're just not good at irony. Kind of like the way she continually has to explain she's an "artist."

[TRUTH]

U GUYS ARE SUCH MISINFORMED DELUSIONAL IDIOTS AND DON'T KNOW WTF UR EVEN TALKING ABOUT IF U DARE TRY TO SAY SHE DIDNT KNOW HE WASN'T MUSLIM OMFG PPL GO TRY READING A DAM BOOK OR LEARN SOMETHING FROM HER AND LISTEN TO WHAT SHE SAYING B4 U OPEN UR MOUTHS GET OFF UR ASS AND DO SOMETHING LIKE HER!

[Jackie]

As fans, we do not spend big money to listen to her preach. Many fans, though we respect her opinion, do not agree with her presidential picks. And we do not spend BIG money to listen to her preach about what president to vote for. We spend the money to listen to her great music and performances. Not preach to us. It's almost a buzz kill at the concert. Everyone having a good time and bam, here comes the politics. As I said before, love her dearly but "Madonna don't preach"!

[DEE]

I agree

[ngl]

@ Jo, Richard T, Holden, Jackie- I agree with you 100%! Madonna is full of it, she DID think Obama was a Muslim and is now just backtracking, and poorly! Lately Madonna thinks she can do or say ANYTHING, if it gets a negative reaction then she says "I'm was just being Ironic!" Ah, no Madonna you made mistake- but you lack any vestige of humility to admit it! Madonna don't preach, stick to being an entertainer! The MDNA Tour has a few months to go and I dread to think what "Ironic" things she will say and do in the future!!! I still love her music but...

[Dee]

I get what she was trying to say. She is a big supporter of his and has earned the right to speak about it. Queen of pop and controversy. She has balls and that's what we like

[Jackie]

She should stick to her music. We don't need anyone to preach politics while at a concert. At the end of the day, no one votes according to a singer or anyone in Hollywood. Love Madonna dearly but please "Madonna don't preach"!

[Peter]

A save? I can't imagine how anyone with an appreciation of context could have thought for even a moment that Madonna ever sincerely thought that Obama is Muslim. Besides, people who do believe that Obama is Muslim generally do not also support him, which Madonna has for several years now.

[Kelly]

I don't think it was a good thing for her to say. There's enough people already who think Obama is a "secret Muslim". She's just adding fuel to that fire.

[Will]

Actually, I do believe her. Madonna is an extremely intelligent woman and don't believe she thinks the president is Muslim. Madonna does a lot of irony and sometime people don't "get" her. Her message is one of acceptance no matter who you are.

[Holden]

I have to agree with Jo. I watched the concert footage and I saw no sign from Madonna that she was being ironic. One would think that she would have put her fingers up in quotations marks to illustrate the irony of even said, "I am being ironic". But there were no subtle signs, body language, or verbal cues from Madonna that she was doing anything ironic about that statement. She was actually sounding "ghetto" and trying to channel her "strong, black woman" persona as she had an ebonic twang to her voice.

Well, another Madonna controversy put to rest. I hope it drums up some ticket sales for her MDNA concert.

[Richard T]

Exactly. That was not meant to be "ironic." Perhaps I have given this woman too much credit over the years thinking that she is intelligent. She must look up words she doesn't know before she speaks them!!

[jo]

ha, nice try at a save Madge. Oops