Madonna Got Very Political At Eurovision 2019

Despite it being one of the most anticipated performances of Eurovision 2019 (we were also counting down the minutes until the epic Eurovision All Stars, too), Madonna has been subject to criticism surrounding her vocal ability, with some going as far to label the whole thing as a 'car crash'.

But one thing that Madonna did do with her performance of hit Like A Prayer and new song Futureis make it political, as she used her performance to call for unity between Israel and Palestine.

When she and guest performer Quavo sang lyrics, ‘Not everyone is coming to the future/ Not everyone is learning from the past’, two dancers - one wearing a Palestinian flag, another with an Israeli flag - embraced as they climbed the stairs on the stage.

Perhaps the most poignant part of her performance was the fact that it ended with the words: Wake Up.

In the weeks leading up to Eurovision, some activists called for Madonna to boycott the event due to its host country - especially after reports of a flare-up of violent between militants in Gaza and Israeli forces.

However, Madonna made reference to the political tensions when she defended her performance in a statement earlier this week, saying: "I’ll never stop playing music to suit someone’s political agenda, nor will I stop speaking out against violations of human rights wherever in the world they may be. My heart breaks every time I hear about the innocent lives that are lost in this region and the violence that is so often perpetuated to suit the political goals of people who benefit from this ancient conflict. I hope and pray that we will soon break free from this terrible cycle of destruction and create a new path towards peace."

She also addressed the criticism of her performance on Sunday, writing on Instagram: "Madame ❌ is a freedom fighter................I am grateful. For the opportunity to spread the message of peace and unity with the world. 🌏🌍🌎. #future #madamex @quavohuncho"

Given that United Kingdom’s Michael Rice finished in last place (again) despite a solid performance, maybe Eurovision and Madonna have reminded us that despite the fun, the flags, and rules that the contest is not a political event, politics still seem to overshadow it all.

Here's some iconic Madonna looks: