Madonna Fans Fight Back Against Prince Tribute Petition
Prince was a phenomenal artist who crossed musical, racial, and social boundaries. It’s likely he would cringe at a petition in his name that is being used to spew vile and sexist language at Madonna, an artist he admired and even played a private concert for recently. The Change.org petition, started by somebody who calls themselves “Stacey Flygirrl Wilson” says Madonna shouldn’t be the main and only act participating at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards.
“We cannot let Madonna be the main and only artist tributing Prince during the 2016 Billboard Awards. He is more than worthy of a better choice as a main performer. Please sign and share this petition so that we can get a proper tribute on May 22, 2016. Timing is tight! Spread the word.”
“Our team dedicates significant resources to span detection and protection. We guard against spam though an automated tool that verifies the authenticity of all users’ email addresses, and we also have an extensive set of automated tracking systems and teams dedicated to monitoring our petitions for irregular signature activity,” Bhola says, noting that the tracking includes signatures coming from the same IP address and other things.
In any case, a number of social media users claim to be manipulating the numbers, but it’s possible they are just trolling.
“Guys, we have been able to use software so we can sign petition multiple times. I have signed 136 times so far. We need to get the total up to 10,000 so Billboard will fire Madonna,” a person who calls themselves “Prince Rules” wrote in the comments section after an article on Idolator.
It seems that fans of other female artists such as Lady Gaga and Janet Jackson are spreading the software around on Twitter as well.
https://twitter.com/lilmonsterluke/status/732321583369326593
Perhaps the worst part of the petition isn’t that it exists or is being manipulated, but the sexist language in the comments from the people who signed. Some of the posts sound like something out of a puritanical religious meeting from the 1950s.
“Madonna is too old to perform and give a tribute to Prince. She is a crusty white raisin. Prince would also not approve of her mixing sexuality with her music,” says Jennifer Smith of Detroit, MI, who must have never watched a Prince video from the 1980s or 1990s.
“Not Madonna! Please not her old behind. He deserves a better tribute,” claims Paula Arviso of Flagstaff, AZ.
One Madonna fan created a counter-petition that hasn’t gained that much attention yet.
“Stacey Flygirrl Wilson has started a petition to tell Billboard awards to not let Madonna tribute Prince at the awards show. It’s very fitting that Madonna would be chosen.. She is the Queen of Pop. Let Madonna fans have a voice too. Now, BUG OFF.. Ms. Flygirrl and let the Queen do her job.”
“Discrimination of any artist for no apparent reason is distasteful to Prince’s memory. Madonna and Prince have a long history of friendship and this would be disrespectful of the highest regard,” says Luke Dylon of Australia.
“Prince not only inspired Madonna, they were good friends, and had nothing but MUTUAL love and respect for each other. Prince even played a three hour private concert for Madonna and her touring crew less than a year ago! Your race issues are actually misguided in this case,” says R. Spice of Toronto, Canada.
It’s important to note that many Prince fans are Madonna fans as well. Both artists ruled the 1980s and Prince played guitar on Madonna’s most loved song, “Like a Prayer.” The petition going around is insulting not only in the name of Prince but to his true fans as well.
[Photo by Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images]
