Madonna pays tribute to 2016 Pulse nightclub massacre victims, calls it 'worst terror attack since 9/11'

MIAMI, FLORIDA: Madonna has paid tribute to the harrowing 2016 mass shooting victims at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

The 65-year-old, who has been a strong advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, invited survivors and loved ones of those killed in the June 2016 shooting to the Miami tour stop of her Celebration Tour at the Kaseya Center on Tuesday, April 9.

During the show, the Queen of Pop spoke passionately about the individuals affected by the tragedy, which claimed the lives of 49 innocent people.

Madonna called the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting 'the worst terror attack since 9/11'

"I want to draw attention to that moment because nightclubs and music and dance are what bring us together. They shouldn’t be places or things that we do that bring us sadness and tragedy and murder and death and pain and suffering and trauma. But unfortunately human beings are still stuck in some kind of a rut," said Madonna, per People Magazine. 

"I will always stand for the gays, always, because the gays have always stood for me," she told the crowd, describing the tragic event as "the worst terror attack since 9/11."

Madonna got 'emotional' while addressing the survivors and their families

While the 'Material Girl' singer addressed the survivors and their families, she got choked up and admitted to feeling "emotional" about the moment.

"I make dance music. My job is to bring people together, to make people dance, to make people happy, to not judge. This s**t is not supposed to happen. Don’t forget about it," she said.

The Grammy winner then shouted out several survivors and highlighted the shooting's impact on their lives, including lost friends, gunshot injuries, and mental health struggles.

"When are we gonna learn? That's a rhetorical question, but I'm telling you we all take part in this — you know why? Because we all judge each other," she continued. "We think we’re so elevated, we think we’ve seen it all, we've done it all, but even I speak evil to other people. Even I judge."

Madonna added, "We’re all guilty of discrimination in one way or another, therefore we are, on a global level, contributing to these crimes of hate. Therefore, I ask you all to remember your responsibility, and I ask you all to remember you have the ability to shine light in the world and to make a difference."

Madonna asked the audience to turn on their phone flashlights

Madonna began to cry after she was handed a guitar and asked the audience to turn on their phone flashlights.

"Light up this room, so we are all reminded that their lives were not taken in vain, and that we are reminded that every one of us has the ability to shine our own light on each other and share it with the world, share it with our friends, share it with our families, share it with our loved ones, share it with the people we don’t understand, share it with the people we think are our enemies because at the end of the day, we don’t have any f*****g enemies! We are our own enemies. Please remember that," concluded Madonna.

Following the speech, she performed an emotional acoustic cover of Gloria Gaynor's 'I Will Survive'.