Madonna Removes Luther Vandross' Pic from AIDS Tribute at Estate's Urging – Here's Why

Madonna decided to exclude Luther Vandross' photo from the AIDS concert tribute during her "Celebration tour."

This was in response to a request from the estate of the late singer.

The pop icon projects images of influential figures who lost their lives to AIDS on a screen behind her, as part of her performance of the song "Live to Tell."

Among Madonna's inner circle of friends immortalized in a heartfelt tribute include photographer Herb Ritts, iconic singer Freddie Mercury from Queen, musician Keith Haring, and the legendary Sylvester.

During her recent performance in California, however, the Queen of Pop unexpectedly paid homage to the late singer Luther Vandross, sparking a response from his estate.

Why Madonna Removed Luther Vandross' Pic

According to a representative for his estate, "Luther Vandross passed away in 2005 due to complications from a stroke suffered two years earlier."

They went on to tell Page Six, "While we appreciate Madonna's recognition of those lives lost to AIDS, Luther was NEVER diagnosed with AIDS or the HIV Virus."

"We're not sure where she or her production team received false medical information claiming otherwise. We're currently in contact with her management to remove Luther Vandross from the tribute."

The oversight was first brought to light by a Madonna fan, Matthew Rettenmund, who posted a video showcasing the tribute.

He said in the caption, "Sharp-eyed observers also noticed Luther Vandross was suddenly added. Though gay (and closeted to the end), and though Vandross was rumoured to have lost weight due to AIDS-related illness, his 2005 death has never been attributed to AIDS complications."

Was Luther Vandross Gay?

Luther Vandross, who passed away in 2005, supposedly initiated legal action against a tabloid article from 1985 alleging that his significant weight loss was a result of sickness, such as AIDS.

Additionally, in 2017, his longtime confidante Patti LaBelle made no mention of his sexual orientation in public.

In an interview with Andy Cohen on his show, she revealed, "We talked about it. Basically, he did not want his mother to be..."

"Although she might have known, but he wasn't going to come out and say this to the world."

"And he had a lot of lady fans and he told me he just didn't want to upset the world."

During Luther's death, the iconic singer faced health challenges such as diabetes and hypertension.

In 2003, he endured a severe stroke that left him in a coma for over two months, rendering him unable to communicate or perform.

Tragically, on July 1, 2005, at the age of only 54, Luther Vandross succumbed to a heart attack at a hospital in New Jersey.

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