Madonna thanks Pepsi for airing banned advert during VMAs

Madonna expressed her gratitude to Pepsi for airing her previously banned 1989 commercial during the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards.

At the awards ceremony, Madonna's once-controversial Pepsi advertisement finally made its appearance before an audience. The 30-second ad featured Madonna uttering the words, "Go ahead, make a wish," and dancing on a city street to her then-new single, "Like a Prayer." This ad had sparked controversy back in 1989.

Reflecting on this moment, Madonna took to Twitter to share her thoughts. She mentioned how 34 years ago, she had collaborated with Pepsi to celebrate the release of her song "Like a Prayer." However, the commercial faced immediate cancellation when Madonna refused to alter any scenes in the video, including those where she kissed a black saint or depicted burning crosses. This incident marked the beginning of her career as an artist who refused to compromise her artistic integrity.

Madonna concluded her post by extending her gratitude to Pepsi for recognizing the value of the advertisement and emphasized the role of artists in challenging the status quo, stating, "Artists are here to disturb the peace."

In 1989, the day after the Pepsi commercial premiered, Madonna released her music video for "Like a Prayer," which stirred controversy and condemnation from various religious groups, including the Vatican, who deemed it blasphemous. While the commercial itself was not inherently controversial, it was canceled due to its association with the provocative music video. Despite the cancellation of the ad, Madonna still received compensation for her work as part of a $5 million (£4 million) deal with Pepsi.