Madonna is a queen and an icon and no one else should say otherwise. But the music legend just tore down sexism with an AH-MA-ZING speech at Billboard Women in Music.
In the speech, she critiqued the treatment of women in the music industry, saying: "I stand before you as a doormat. Oh, I mean, as a female entertainer".
Madonna was accepting the Woman of the Year 2016 on Friday when she made the speech calling out sexism. She said: "Thank you for acknowledging my ability to continue my career for 34 years in the face of blatant sexism and misogyny and constant bullying and relentless abuse."
"If you're a girl you have to play the game. What is that game? You're allowed to be pretty and cute and sexy. But don't act too smart. Don't have an opinion. Don't have an opinion that is out of line with the status quo at least."
The singer also slammed the double standards in the music industry, and the additional criticism she's faced during her career because she's women.
"I was called a whore. And a witch. One headline compared me to Satan. I said 'Wait a minute, isn't Prince running around with fishnets and high heels and lipstick with his butt hanging out?'
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"Yes, he was. But he was a man."
She also added: I think the most controversial thing I have ever done is to stick around. Michael is gone. Tupac is gone. Prince is gone. Whitney is gone. Amy Winehouse is gone. David Bowie is gone. But I'm still standing. I'm one of the lucky ones and every day I count my blessings."
Keep fighting Madonna. You are simply amazing. 🙌
Billboard Women in Music airs on December 12 on Lifetime at 9pm
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