The estate of Luther Vandross is not happy with Madonna.
While performing her hit song, “Live to Tell,”, Madonna did a tribute to her friends that she lost to AIDS-related complications. During the touching tribute, the “Vogue” singer included photos of Freddie Mercury, Sylvester, and Keith Haring. She also added a photo of Vandross, but his estate quickly corrected her.
A representative of Vandross’ estate said in a statement, “Luther Vandross passed away in 2005 due to complications from a stroke suffered two years earlier. While we appreciate Madonna’s recognition of those lives lost to AIDS, Luther was NEVER diagnosed with AIDS or the HIV Virus,” the rep said. “We’re not sure where she or her production team received false medical information claiming otherwise. We’re currently in contact with her management to remove Luther Vandross from the tribute.”
A rep of Madonna’s said that the photo of Luther Vandross has been removed from the tribute. Matthew Rettenmund, the author of the Madonna fact back, “Encyclopedia Madonnica,” shared his thoughts on the tribute in a now-deleted post on social media.
“Though gay (and closeted to the end), and though Vandross was rumored to have lost weight due to AIDS-related illness, his 2005 death has never been attributed to AIDS complications. Not sure why he was added belatedly, but it is an interesting choice,” he wrote in his caption.
Luther Vandross passed away at age 54 on July 1, 2005.