Madonna‘s Asian leg of her Rebel Heart Tour is stirring one controversy after the other. Madge now faces a ban from performing in the Philippines in the future, after she was accused of “disrespecting” the country’s flag during her concert in Manila last week.
No matter that she just visited the Bahay Tuluyan Foundation, which gives shelter to child abuse and trafficking victims and the Hospicio De San Jose, Filipino officials are less than impressed by her on-stage antics. Videos and pics from the concert on February 24 show Madonna dancing while draped in the Philippine flag. Did she burn it? No. Did she defile it some way? Nope. She wore a costume inspired by the flag, and also waved one during the finale. When she did, she allowed it to TOUCH the stage floor. GASP! The crowd LOVED every moment of it, but it didn’t go down well with the government. Presidential spokesman Herminio Coloma said,
“Malacanang (presidential palace) is keen on banning Grammy award winner and Queen of Pop Madonna from performing in the Philippines for disrespecting the Philippine flag in her concert.”
Teodoro Atienza, who is also chief of the heraldry section of the National Historical Commission said,
“She ridiculed our flag. [Madonna and the concert producers] may face deportation and might not be able to return to the country. She also allowed the flag to touch the stage floor, which is another violation.”
Calm down lady. It was probably unknown to Madonna and her producers, but the Philippines has a law against wearing its flag “in whole or in part as a costume or uniform.” Offenders risk a one-year jail term, as well as a fine.
This incident is just the latest in flag-related no-nos she’s encountered in Asia. In Taiwan, Madonna caused a stir when she posted on Instagram a pic of her face on a blue-star design. Innocent enough, no?
You and I (and probably Madonna) might have thought the design was a generic national emblem for Taiwan, it’s actually the symbol for the Kuomintang (KMT) political party under which an estimated 18,000 to 30,000 Taiwanese were executed in the 50s & 60s. Its flag has come to be associated with the period known as the “White Terror”. (Funny, I think Madge has been called the same thing!)
The offending post has been removed after Taiwanese netizens called her out for being culturally insensitive. But instead of easing tensions, Madonna continued to stir up negative emotions during her Feb. 5 performance. While performing “Holiday” on stage in Taipei, the singer draped the Republic of China flag on herself. Many people across the shore in mainland China view the Taiwanese flag as a “regional flag” not its national flag, because Taiwan declares itself independent, but China insists it belongs to the mainland.
Madonna has yet to comment directly on any of the allegations, but she did make clear what would happen if someone tries to mess with her on Instagram,
“Don’t fuck with the queen.”
OK. Got it. But cultural insensitivity and appropriation, Madonna!? Well, anyway, she’s moving on to Australia next so, just try to steer clear of kangaroo humping onstage, alright?
(via Gay Star News)
