Madonna: It Was Not Meant to Be an Aretha Tribute

01This is what's trending today.

02American singer Madonna is being hotly criticized for her comments about legendary musical artist Aretha Franklin, who died last week.

03Madonna spoke Monday night at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York City.

04The pop star told a lengthy story that began with the words, Aretha Louise Franklin changed the course of my life.

05It seemed to be the start of a tribute to the woman known as the Queen of Soul.

06But critics say Madonna's speech was only about Franklin on the surface.

07Madonna went on to tell about one of her own early singing auditions in Paris, in which she sang a song Franklin Made Famous.

08Twitter user Michael Arsenault described the speech this way, Another tweet from ESPN's Kate Nolan read, Does Madonna know Madonna didn't die?

09On Tuesday, Madonna tried to explain.

10In an Instagram post, she said she was asked to present the Video of the Year award and share any stories she had from her career that were connected to Franklin.

11She also wrote that she could never do Franklin justice with a tribute amid the noise and tinsel of an awards show.

12Other social media users also criticized Madonna for what she wore on the VMA stage at Radio City Music Hall.

13The Northern African style clothing and headpiece was protested as cultural appropriation.

14And that's what's trending today.

15I'm Katie Weaver.