Madonna Closes Out World Pride 2019

Madonna (image via Instagram/Donatella_Versace)

Madonna closed out the massive World Pride celebrations in New York City last night with a 4 song set during the festival’s ‘Pride Island’ on Manhattan’s Pier 57.

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots, New York Pride hosted this year’s World Pride festivities.

Taking to the stage, the Queen of Pop began with a raucous rendition of her 1990 classic, “Vogue,” which was quickly followed by her 2003 hit, “American Life.”

Madonna strikes a pose with a chorus of other Madonnas. #WorldPride loses it. pic.twitter.com/03ynUicjcX

— Ramin Setoodeh (@RaminSetoodeh) July 1, 2019

Madonna breaks out the guitar and the sparkling eye patch. pic.twitter.com/trAqZqCseQ

— Ramin Setoodeh (@RaminSetoodeh) July 1, 2019

Madge’s longtime friend, Donatella Versace provided social media coverage throughout the performance.

View this post on Instagram

@madonna performs at New York #Pride in a sequin-embellished outfit paired with a rainbow-toned Medusa harness and a belted leather trench coat enriched with heritage gold-tone hardware. The dancers wore jumpsuits with rainbow accents. #VersaceCelebrities

A post shared by Versace (@versace) on Jul 1, 2019 at 12:22am PDT

Madonna then stopped to address the weekend’s celebrations.

“It’s weird, I know we’re on a pier and this pier has a lot of history; God knows it has a lot of history,” she began, referencing the piers history as a cruising area for gay men in the 1970s and 80s.

“So, fifty years people,” she continued. “Fifty years of revolution, fifty years of freedom fighting, fifty years of putting up with discrimination, hatred and indifference, fifty years of blood, sweat and tears, fifty years of not bowing down to fear. That’s what I’m talking about.”

“We have been on this journey together, and I am so proud and honored to share this historical evening with you,” added the 6-year-old pop-star.

“Since I came to New York as a wee little girl, I have always been embraced by queer nation,” bringing the conversation to the personal. “I always felt like an outsider but you made me feel like an insider. You must know how much I love and appreciate everyone here tonight - all members of the LGBTQ community.”

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” she concluded before launching into her latest single from Madame X, “God Control,” a controversial (what’s new?) meditation on gun violence in the U.S.

She closed with the anthemic “I Rise,” also from Madame X.

According to organizers, approximately 4.5 million people took part in the multiple NYC Pride events throughout the weekend.

Head over to Boy Culture where Matt Rettenmund has lots of fantastic pics of the 4-song set by Madge.

Madame ❌ is a spy in the House of NYC................ work BITCHES............. 🌈🗽#nyc #worldpridenyc #stonewall50 #madamex pic.twitter.com/BOsWuzZCBI

— Madonna (@Madonna) July 1, 2019

(h/t Hollywood Reporter)