Those celebrating at New York’s iconic LGBTQ venue Stonewall Inn on New Year's Eve were in for a special surprise last night. Madonna surprised fans with a heartfelt speech and a performance including "Like a Prayer" and a rendition of Elvis Presley’s 1961 hit "Can’t Help Falling in Love." According to Variety, Madonna was named the Stonewall ambassador for the 50th anniversary celebrations, but no one was expecting such an early appearance from the iconic singer.
In her speech, she spent some time reflecting on the LGBTQ movement and a hopeful look at the future.
“If we truly look and we truly take the time to get to know one another, we would find that we all bleed the same color and we all need to love and be loved. As we stand here together tonight, let’s remember who we are fighting for and what we are fighting for. We are fighting for ourselves, yes. We are fighting for each other, yes. But truly and most importantly, what are we fighting for?” Madonna asked as the crowd responded with the word “love.” “Love, thank you people, we’re fighting for love."
“So let’s take a moment to reflect on how we can bring more love and peace into 2019. In this new year, let’s commit to disarming people with unexpected acts of kindness. Let’s be counterintuitive, share what you know with someone you don’t agree with. Think about that, try it, get out of your comfort zone,” she continued. “Let’s try to be more forgiving, maybe we will find an opening to let the light come in. Let’s close up the distance between one human being and another. Are you ready to do that?”
After her speech, her son David Banda came out onstage with an acoustic guitar to accompany Madonna with her performance.
Check out the performance below.
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Article image: Madonna performing in Philadelphia on her Rebel Heart Tour in 2015. (JD Urban [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons.)
