Madonna is slated to pay homage to Prince at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards on May 22nd, but many Prince fans aren’t pleased. They’ve launched a petition on Change.org to stop the performance from happening, believing there are more qualified artists for the job who were more musically influenced by the late icon.
“We cannot let Madonna be the main and only artist tributing Prince during the 2016 Billboard Awards,” the petition reads. “He is more than worthy of a better choice as a main performer. Please sign and share this petition so that we can get a proper tribute on May 22, 2016. Timing is tight! Spread the word.”
At the time of this writing, the petition has 6,228 signatures out of the needed 7,500.
Comments from some of the petition signers suggest other performers such as Chaka Khan, Sheila E., Mint Condition, or Lenny Kravitz join Madonna for the tribute. One signer wrote, “Prince’s tribute should be given by his legends (Chaka, Stevie) main collaborators (Sheila, Wendy, Morris/The Time, NPG, 3EG) and artists who are heavily influenced by Prince in their style (D’Angelo, Janelle Monet, Miguel, Bilal, Lenny Kravitz even John Mayer guitar).”
In case you’re wondering, Madonna has worked with Prince before; he played percussion on the titled track of her 1989 album Like A Prayer and sang on their duet Love Song.
Sound off! Do you think Madonna was a bad choice to tribute Prince at The 2016 Billboard Music Awards?
