Madonna Celebrates Release of Canceled Pepsi Commercial 34 Years After ‘Like a Prayer’ Controversy

Madonna is celebrating the release of her canceled Pepsi ad – 34 years after it was banned.

The singer, 65, worked with the soda maker on a 1989 video featuring her hit “Like A Prayer” as part of a $5 million deal.

However, the day after the ad aired, a full-length music video for the song also debuted on MTV and caused a stir among religious groups for its images of burning crosses and the seduction of the saint. Once he was even condemned by the Vatican.

Despite the original two-minute commercial reaching an estimated 250 million viewers in more than 40 countries, it eventually forced Pepsi to pull the ad in April 1989 and cancel its sponsorship deal with Madonna.

However, on Tuesday, the ad made a comeback when it aired at the 2023 MTV VMAs to mark Pepsi’s 125th anniversary.

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Madonna was quick to share her thoughts on X (formerly known as Twitter) and thanked Pepsi for “finally realizing the genius of our collaboration.”

“34 years ago I did a commercial with Pepsi to celebrate the release of my song Like a Prayer,” she wrote alongside a clip of the ad that first aired at the 31st Grammy Awards in February 1989. “The ad was immediately canceled when I refused to change any some scene in the video where I kissed a black saint or burned crosses.”

“Thus began my illustrious career as an artist who refused to compromise his artistic integrity. Thank you @pepsi for finally realizing the genius of our collaboration. 😄Artists are here to disturb the peace,” she added.

Madonna in a commercial from 1989.

Pepsi

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The ad opens with Madonna sitting on a chair and telling the camera, “Go ahead, make a wish.” The shot then cuts to her singing and dancing in the street as she sings “Like A Prayer,” before the camera cuts back to Madonna in a chair watching herself perform on a projector screen with a can of Pepsi in hand.

The new version of the commercial then ends with the graphic text, “Celebrating 40 years of disrupting the status quo,” referring to Madonna’s four decades in the music industry.

Many of the singer’s famous fans shared their admiration for the star and the re-airing of the ad on Instagram, with DJ Diplo writing: “This song changed my life.”

“DRAG. BLAZER. PERIOD,” added Ru Paul’s Drag Race star Michelle Visage, while host Andy Cohen wrote: “AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!”

Madonna.

Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty

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Madonna is currently preparing to kick off her celebratory tour, which kicks off in London next month.

Earlier this month, a source told PEOPLE that she is “feeling strong” and is back in rehearsals for the tour after being hospitalized for a serious bacterial infection in late June.

“She went back to rehearsals last Monday,” the insider said, adding that it’s her “most ambitious tour ever.” “She is so happy to be back on stage and feeling strong. She is working closely with her long-time collaborators, Jamie King and Stuart Price, to complete the show.”

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Source: HIS Education