Madonna Sparks Backlash Over AI-Generated Photos Featuring Pope Francis: ‘Ridiculously Disrespectful’
Madonna has once again landed in hot water, this time for sharing AI-generated images of herself with Pope Francis on her Instagram Story. The provocative images, posted Friday night, left fans and critics divided.
In the first image, the 87-year-old pontiff is seen with a beaming smile as he hugs the 66-year-old singer, his nose pressed against her cheek. Madonna cheekily captioned the photo, “Going into the weekend like…” The second image showed the pop icon in a lacy corset, with Pope Francis seemingly leaning in for a kiss while holding her by the waist. She added, “Feels Good to Be Seen……”
The AI-generated photos quickly drew ire on social media. One user called the images “ridiculously disrespectful,” while another deemed them “creepy.” A third commenter wrote, “This is just weird as hell… she’s lost it.” Another critic expressed outrage, saying, “Disgusting! I pray her soul gets saved!”
Madonna’s Legacy of Controversy
This isn’t Madonna’s first brush with controversy. Throughout her career, the “Like a Prayer” singer has frequently pushed boundaries, often invoking religious imagery to provoke discussion.
In 1989, her music video for Like a Prayer—featuring burning crosses and a kiss with a Black saint falsely accused of murder—prompted the Vatican to call for a boycott of her Blond Ambition World Tour. That same video led Pepsi to pull her commercial, though Madonna was allowed to share it in 2023. She captioned its release with, “Artists are here to disturb the peace.”
Earlier this year, Madonna faced legal trouble when a fan sued her during her “Celebration” tour, claiming the singer exposed attendees to “pornography without warning.” Her concerts have often courted controversy, including racy lap dances performed by her backup dancers. In one instance, she even gave Ricky Martin a lap dance during an April show in Miami, sparking speculation about his reaction.
Reactions to the AI Photos
While Madonna’s representatives have yet to comment on the backlash, fans and critics alike have called her latest move a step too far, reigniting debates about the limits of artistic expression.
