Guys, can I interrupt your day to tell you about something small but significant that happened 35 years ago today? This was the day that Madonna - in front of a worldwide audience - faced an aggressive crowd and refused to be slut-shamed 1/

So you remember Live Aid? The era-defining benefits concert was staged on 13th July 1985 simultaneously in London and Philadelphia and to a worldwide TV and radio audience. The London concert was featured in the climax of the recent Bohemian Rhapsody movie. /2

Madonna was on the lineup at Philadelphia. Most of the acts that played Live Aid Philadelphia were legacy acts like Beach Boys, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, or they were rock acts like Judas Priest, Black Sabbath. This was not Madonna’s audience. /3

In 1978 when Madonna was 18 she posed nude for some photographers. As her fame grew those photographers decided to cash in and sold the photos. Three days prior to Live Aid, Playboy published the pictures. On the actual day of Live Aid, Penthouse published some more. 4/

As you’d expect from our media, the nude pics caused a storm. There were features in newspapers damning Madonna while publishing the pics in censored form. Madonna was expected to behave like a shamed woman and it was widely expected she’d cancel her Live Aid appearance. 5/

Madonna was due to appear onstage at 16:30. Bette Midler was sent out to introduce her. She referenced the pics by introducing Madonna as “a woman who pulled herself up by her bra straps and has been known to let them down occasionally”. /6

So Madonna took the stage. She looked incredible. This was the first time most of us had seen her live, up till then we’d really only seen her music videos. She had a lot to prove, especially in front of the Philadelphia audience waiting for their rock fix. /7

She did 3 songs - Holiday, Into the Groove and Love Makes the World Go Round (a new song which would later appear on the True Blue album). She spoke to the crowd before, during and after each song but it was hard to ignore the chants from the audience. /8

It’s widely reported they were chanting “Take your coat off” but when I listen all I can hear is “Tits”.
Either way, they were trying to shame her. Before her final song, she addressed the crowd head on. /9

She had everything to lose at this point. This was her first big live event. Her inclusion wasn’t taken seriously. The press hated her, music journalists thought she was a joke, and the crowd just wanted to see her tits. And the world was watching in judgement. /10

I was 13 and watched this live and was absolutely gobsmacked. Holy heck she’s not ashamed, she’s not upset? She’s throwing it back at those sexist pigs!! I loved her for it. This was Madonna becoming a legend. /11

There would be interviews and quotes that followed, and of course lots of judgement. Her “so what” response inspired art by Andy Warhol and Keith Haring.
But of course it’s the cultural impact she had on the TV audience that can’t be measured.
You don’t have to be ashamed! /12

You can watch Madonna’s full Live Aid performance here.
/END https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x195764