Madonna called 'disrespectful' after posting photo of her on toilet in tribute to late friend

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By Kim Novak

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Madonna has upset some fans after she shared a series of photos in tribute to a late friend - including one of her on the toilet.

The 64-year-old entertainer took to Instagram to remember her late friend Jean-Michel Basquiat in honor of what would have been his 62nd birthday this week.

She kicked off the post with a black and white throwback photo of the pair of them together, along with a caption about how much she missed him.

Madonna wrote: "Happy Birthday Jean-Michel!!! You would’ve been 62 today! I often wonder what the world would’ve been like lf you had not left us so many years ago."

She continued: "I try to imagine the magnificent Art you would still be creating. I feel so lucky to have had you in my life and to Discover myself as an artist and Struggle with you and Keith Haring. and so many other great ones. Watched over by our Godfather Andy Warhol!

"I remember our late night conversations about pop culture and whether Fine Art And specifically your art would ever reach a large audience the way my music did. You were so tormented by this but also driven and Determined to make your Mark on the world.

"I so wish you would’ve lived long enough to kNow how You turned not only the Art World on its head but THE. World! How excited people are To see your exhibitions. How your name has become a household word.

"I loved you deeply and I know that The time we spent together broke and hungry on the L.E.S. Was a sacred passageway on our journey as artists. Never to be repeated. Never to be forgotten. I hope you’re happy wherever you are!"

While her message was heartfelt, some fans were left confused as to why she had chosen to share a photo of herself sitting on a toilet - albeit with the lid closed - as part of the series of images she posted.

In the snap, the Queen of Pop could be seen sitting atop the toilet seat pointing up at a piece of artwork on the wall behind her, before zooming in on it in another frame, and adding more images of her and Basquiat together, as well as her kneeling on the floor with her hands pressed up against a red wall.

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Credit: Instagram
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Credit: Instagram

Fans commented: "But what have photos of you bending over got to do with this date ??? Such a shame".

Others added: "I think it's a bit... odd that you post pictures of your behinds to a memorial post" and "Great tribute until the extra pics were added it should just be about him."

Another wrote: "Three pics with Jean-Michel and 7 pics of just Madonna! Such a heartfelt dedication!"

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Credit: Instagram
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Credit: Instagram
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Credit: Instagram

Basquiat was an American artist in the 1980s, rising to fame as part of the Neo-expressionism movement. He died at the age of 27 in 1988 from a heroin overdose in his home in Manhattan.

Since his death, his artwork has continued to increase in value, with his painting Untitled - which depicts a skull - being among the most expensive paintings ever, selling for $110.5 million in 2017, making it the highest price ever paid at auction for an artwork by an American artist in a public sale until it was surpassed in 2022 by Shot Sage Blue Marilyn by Andy Warhol, which sold for $195 million.

Featured image credit: Image Press Agency / Alamy

Madonna called 'disrespectful' after posting photo of her on toilet in tribute to late friend

vt-author-image

By Kim Novak

Article saved!Article saved!

Madonna has upset some fans after she shared a series of photos in tribute to a late friend - including one of her on the toilet.

The 64-year-old entertainer took to Instagram to remember her late friend Jean-Michel Basquiat in honor of what would have been his 62nd birthday this week.

She kicked off the post with a black and white throwback photo of the pair of them together, along with a caption about how much she missed him.

Madonna wrote: "Happy Birthday Jean-Michel!!! You would’ve been 62 today! I often wonder what the world would’ve been like lf you had not left us so many years ago."

She continued: "I try to imagine the magnificent Art you would still be creating. I feel so lucky to have had you in my life and to Discover myself as an artist and Struggle with you and Keith Haring. and so many other great ones. Watched over by our Godfather Andy Warhol!

"I remember our late night conversations about pop culture and whether Fine Art And specifically your art would ever reach a large audience the way my music did. You were so tormented by this but also driven and Determined to make your Mark on the world.

"I so wish you would’ve lived long enough to kNow how You turned not only the Art World on its head but THE. World! How excited people are To see your exhibitions. How your name has become a household word.

"I loved you deeply and I know that The time we spent together broke and hungry on the L.E.S. Was a sacred passageway on our journey as artists. Never to be repeated. Never to be forgotten. I hope you’re happy wherever you are!"

While her message was heartfelt, some fans were left confused as to why she had chosen to share a photo of herself sitting on a toilet - albeit with the lid closed - as part of the series of images she posted.

In the snap, the Queen of Pop could be seen sitting atop the toilet seat pointing up at a piece of artwork on the wall behind her, before zooming in on it in another frame, and adding more images of her and Basquiat together, as well as her kneeling on the floor with her hands pressed up against a red wall.

wp-image-1263186233 size-full
Credit: Instagram
wp-image-1263186234 size-full
Credit: Instagram

Fans commented: "But what have photos of you bending over got to do with this date ??? Such a shame".

Others added: "I think it's a bit... odd that you post pictures of your behinds to a memorial post" and "Great tribute until the extra pics were added it should just be about him."

Another wrote: "Three pics with Jean-Michel and 7 pics of just Madonna! Such a heartfelt dedication!"

wp-image-1263186235 size-full
Credit: Instagram
wp-image-1263186236 size-full
Credit: Instagram
wp-image-1263186237 size-full
Credit: Instagram

Basquiat was an American artist in the 1980s, rising to fame as part of the Neo-expressionism movement. He died at the age of 27 in 1988 from a heroin overdose in his home in Manhattan.

Since his death, his artwork has continued to increase in value, with his painting Untitled - which depicts a skull - being among the most expensive paintings ever, selling for $110.5 million in 2017, making it the highest price ever paid at auction for an artwork by an American artist in a public sale until it was surpassed in 2022 by Shot Sage Blue Marilyn by Andy Warhol, which sold for $195 million.

Featured image credit: Image Press Agency / Alamy