Madonna thanks Pepsi for airing banned ad at MTV VMAs

Music
14 Sep 23

It was at the tail-end of the 80s when Madonna made an ad for Pepsi. But it was binned when controversy erupted over her 'Like A Prayer' video. All these years later, you can watch the controversial clip below.

Madonna has thanked Pepsi for airing a banned ad she starred in all the way back in 1989.

The campaign was called-off before getting the planned air-time, following the controversy that surrounded the music video for Madonna's global No.1 smash hit, ‘Like A Prayer’ – the title track of her 1989 album.

The video featured a scene displaying burning crosses along with the singer kissing a Black 'saint'. The soft drinks giant pulled the ad and cut ties with Madonna following pressure from various religious groups (including the Vatican).

The single went on to sell in excess of 5 million copies worldwide, hitting the No.1 spot in the charts almost everywhere and going Platinum in the US, the UK and Australia. The album was also a huge seller – though not quite scaling the sales heights reached by either Like A Virgin (1984) or True Blue (1986).

On Tuesday 12 September, Pepsi showed the ad in its entirety at the MTV VMAs- in celebration of the cola’s 125^th anniversary.

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“34 years ago I made a commercial with Pepsi to celebrate the release of my song Like a Prayer,” said Madonna on Instagram.

“The commercial was immediately cancelled when I refused to change any scenes in the video where I was kissing a black saint or burning crosses. So began my illustrious career as an artist refusing to compromise my artistic integrity.

"Thank you Pepsi for finally realising the genius of our collaboration. Artists are here to disturb the peace.”

Madonna's choice of the word 'cancelled' is interesting. It is a reminder of the fact that censorship of artists is not a new phenomenon, or anything like it. But it also makes the connection between the repressive religious groups of the time, and those who currently set out to suppress or 'cancel' an artist who expresses a different point of view.

Madonna’s deal with Pepsi was worth a reported $5million. The ad itself, it turns out, was far more family-friendly than the actual music video, and showed the pop star dancing and singing in the street.

A major critic was Pope John Paul II, who condemned Madonna for associating religion with sexual visuals.

Elsewhere, Madonna will begin the UK and European legs for her ‘Celebration Tour’ next month, before embarking on her rescheduled North American dates in December.