Madonna sparked outrage on Friday after her Twitter account posted images of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela photoshopped onto her “Rebel Heart” album cover.
Here’s what the album cover looks like:
X-mas is coming early! Pre order my album and download 6 tracks! Happy Holidays! ❤️#rebelheart pic.twitter.com/YBiJccfQQ4
— Madonna (@Madonna) December 20, 2014
Here’s Nelson Mandela:
This❤️#rebelheart fought for freedom! pic.twitter.com/7OxGT28TuY
— Madonna (@Madonna) January 2, 2015
And Martin Luther King:
This ❤️#rebelheart had a dream! pic.twitter.com/PIwcwosS2G
— Madonna (@Madonna) January 2, 2015
Following the tweets, fans and journalists posted things like “STOP,” “WTF” and “highly disrespectful.” Here are some other reactions:
#1 pop culture problem of 2015 so far is Madonna force-wrapping peoples’ faces in Rebel Heart promo
how do we get it to stop
— LW (@lindseyweber) January 2, 2015
Can Mercy and David please get their mother? Please. http://t.co/OVa05tnWkZ
— Janet Mock (@janetmock) January 2, 2015
Madonna no you need to stop
— Abraham Riesman (@abrahamjoseph) January 2, 2015
Dear Madonna,
Can u not?
Love,
Everyone
— Hayes Brown (@HayesBrown) January 2, 2015
madonna has two black children. that’s the scariest part about her behavior.
— Zeba Blay (@zblay) January 2, 2015
A representative for Madonna was not immediately available for comment.
Throughout December, Madonna’s account tweeted various fan photos in the style of the cover, as well as ones of Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, Marilyn Monroe and Skrillex and Diplo all wrapped in black cords. It also included photos of a statue of Jesus Christ …
One of the first ❤️#rebelhearts !!! #iconic pic.twitter.com/abvEf4Ws2J
— Madonna (@Madonna) December 31, 2014
… and Homer Simpson:
Even Homer is #livingforlove #unapologeticbitch #rebelheart pic.twitter.com/1xZnoOmDKB
— Madonna (@Madonna) December 22, 2014
“Rebel Heart” leaked online last month. Six of the album’s tracks are available in an official capacity at the moment, before the record’s release date in March.