Katy Perry says 'every female artist' should thank Madonna, Azealia Banks fires back with scathing tweet

MELBOURNE, SYDNEY: Katy Perry expressed her gratitude for the invaluable support she received from pop icon Madonna during her rise to fame, sharing heartfelt memories on a talk show.

Perry reflected on how Madonna first tested her before offering support, stressing the Queen of Pop's crucial role in launching her career, especially by giving a shout-out to her hit single 'Ur So Gay'.

However, her tribute stirred controversy when singer Azealia Banks fired back with a scathing tweet, igniting a heated debate about the legacy of female artists in pop music.

Katy Perry reflects on Madonna's early support and encouragement

Katy Perry has enjoyed Madonna's support since the start of her career. During her appearance on the Australian talk show 'The Project', she discussed the early encouragement she received from the pop icon. 

“Madonna was really nice to me, well it took a minute because she was testing me and then she became super nice to me,” Perry recalled.

“She just does her Madonna thing,” Perry explained, "She would invite me to a party and we had to do a photoshoot together which was amazing. She’s the greatest." 

Perry also noted that Madonna's praise of her 2007 single 'Ur So Gay' on a radio show gave her a major boost in popularity.

“She actually shouted out my song and that was really the beginning of my career. That’s kind of what started to break me,” she reflected. 

Perry emphasized that “every female [artist] still needs to continue to say thank you” to Madonna, adding, “I’m 40 I still get to do music because of Madonna.”

Katy Perry recently released her latest album, '143', marking her first project since the release of 2020’s 'Smile'.

Azealia Banks challenges Katy Perry's tribute to Madonna

Following her tribute to pop icon Madonna, Katy Perry faced backlash from another singer. In a recent tweet, Azealia Banks responded to Perry's assertion that every female artist should thank Madonna.

She pointed out several influential women in music, emphasizing that they have created their own legacies and asserting that they owe nothing to Madonna.

On September 26th, Banks tweeted, “Grace Jones, Lil Kim, Beyonce, Whitney Houston, Chaka khan, Teena Marie, Celine Dion, Bjork, Missy Elliott, Toni Braxton, Spice (JA), Eve, and especially Janet Jackson - owe Madonna nothing.”

This shows that Banks believes these artists have established their own significant legacies and should not feel indebted to Madonna, highlighting a broader conversation about the dynamics of influence and recognition in the music industry.

Katy Perry's tribute to Madonna sparks mixed reactions online

Katy Perry's tribute to Madonna sparked lively discussions on social media, with some fans expressing their support while others mocked the sentiment.

One user claimed, "Yes, but none of them are the Queen of Pop. Madonna is and will forever be, the Queen of pop."

Another user mocked Perry by saying, "Yeah but Katy is delusional."

Shortly after Perry's tribute faced criticism from Banks, who asserted that every artist has built their own legacy, the internet quickly chimed in with their opinions on the matter.

A user said, "Queens of their own thrones." 

Another claimed, "Absolutely! Each of them has made incredible contributions to music and culture in their own right. They stand out on their own!"

One user denied Banks' claim, stating, "Literally everyone on that list was influenced or inspired by Madonna. And you were too. 🤡"

Another individual added, "They should be thanking Josephine Baker, Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Lorne, Tina Turner, Nina Simone, Donna Sunmer, & Janet Jackson." 

"Nobody owes anybody anything." a user declared.

Another agreed with Perry's claim, stating, "Literally every single person on that list was influenced by Madonna lol."

This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online