Madonna's canceled 1989 Pepsi ad airs during the MTV Video Music Awards... 34 YEARS after 'Like A Prayer' controversy saw it pulled
Madonna's previously cancelled Pepsi commercial finally aired during the MTV Video Music Awards on Tuesday night after over three-decades.
It was originally shot in 1989 to promote the release of 'Like A Prayer' but was later nixed after the song's music video sparked outrage over its 'religious imagery.'
On Wednesday, the bonafide 'Queen Of Pop,' 65, thanked Pepsi for letting the ad see the light of day while also reflecting on her own unwavering artistic integrity.
'34 years ago I made a commercial with Pepsi to celebrate the release of my song 'Like a Prayer,'' she wrote via Instagram.
'The commercial was immediately canceled when I refused to change any scenes in the video where I was kissing a black saint or burning crosses.
![Long-awaited: Madonna's previously canceled Pepsi commercial finally aired during the MTV Video Music Awards on Tuesday night after over three-decades](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/14/08/75417843-12516991-Long_awaited_Madonna_s_previously_cancelled_Pepsi_commercial_fin-m-228_1694675402124.jpg)
Long-awaited: Madonna's previously canceled Pepsi commercial finally aired during the MTV Video Music Awards on Tuesday night after over three-decades
'So began my illustrious career as an artist refusing to compromise my artistic integrity.
She concluded with: 'Thank you @pepsi for finally realizing the genius of our collaboration. Artists are here to disturb the peace.'
Madonna re-posted the ad for her 19.1million Instagram followers to see.
Mostly filmed in black-and-white, the commercial shows a much-younger Madonna seated at her television with a Pepsi in hand as she watches herself on a TV screen.
She takes in visuals of herself dancing in the streets at night rocking a slew of silver cross pendant necklaces and one of her then-signature bustier tops.
The two-minute ad first aired on March 2, 1989 — a day before the music video for Like A Prayer was released.
She was reportedly paid over $5million by the soda giant for the commercial spot.
But the Like A Prayer video quickly proved controversial as it upset religious groups with its imagery and sexual themes.
![Controversy: It was originally shot in 1989 to promote the release of 'Like A Prayer' but was later nixed after the song's music video sparked outrage over its 'religious imagery'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/14/07/75417827-12516991-image-m-209_1694674766259.jpg)
Controversy: It was originally shot in 1989 to promote the release of 'Like A Prayer' but was later nixed after the song's music video sparked outrage over its 'religious imagery'
![Artistic: On Wednesday, the bonafide 'Queen Of Pop,' 65, thanked Pepsi for letting the ad see the light of day while also reflecting on her own unwavering artistic integrity](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/14/07/75417823-12516991-image-m-210_1694674777778.jpg)
Artistic: On Wednesday, the bonafide 'Queen Of Pop,' 65, thanked Pepsi for letting the ad see the light of day while also reflecting on her own unwavering artistic integrity
![Madonna re-posted the ad for her 19.1million Instagram followers to see](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/14/07/75417825-12516991-image-m-211_1694674789114.jpg)
Madonna re-posted the ad for her 19.1million Instagram followers to see
![Throwback: Mostly filmed in black-and-white, the commercial shows a much-younger Madonna seated at her television with a Pepsi in hand as she watches herself on a TV screen](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/14/08/75417839-12516991-image-m-212_1694674806787.jpg)
Throwback: Mostly filmed in black-and-white, the commercial shows a much-younger Madonna seated at her television with a Pepsi in hand as she watches herself on a TV screen
![Premiere: The two-minute ad first aired on March 2, 1989 ¿ a day before the music video for Like A Prayer was released](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/14/08/75417821-12516991-image-m-214_1694674834670.jpg)
Premiere: The two-minute ad first aired on March 2, 1989 — a day before the music video for Like A Prayer was released
The following month, Pepsico decided to nix the Madonna ad after being flooded with complaints by consumers, who mistakenly believed the music video and the Pepsi ad were one and the same.
In a statement, then-spokesperson for Pepsico Inc., Tod MacKenzie, explained: 'When you've got an ad that confuses people or concerns people, it just makes sense that that ad goes away.'
Like A Prayer was the lead single off Madonna's fourth studio album of the same name and topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for three consecutive weeks.
Madonna did not attend this year's MTV Video Music Awards in Newark, New Jersey on Tuesday as she's been busy preparing for her Celebration tour.
She jumped back into rehearsals last month after suffering a health scare this summer that put her in the hospital.
A source told PEOPLE Tuesday that the mother-of-six is very excited to hit the road to perform her new songs and old favorites.
'She returned to rehearsals last Monday. She's so happy to be back onstage and is feeling strong,' they shared.
'She's working closely with her longtime collaborators, Jamie King and Stuart Price, to put the final touches on the show,' says the source.
![Reheasrsals: Madonna did not attend this year's MTV Video Music Awards in Newark, New Jersey on Tuesday as she's been busy preparing for her Celebration tour](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/14/08/75094789-12516991-Lacy_and_racy_Madonna_was_seen_almost_spilling_out_of_her_black_-a-215_1694674990022.jpg)
Reheasrsals: Madonna did not attend this year's MTV Video Music Awards in Newark, New Jersey on Tuesday as she's been busy preparing for her Celebration tour
![Back in action: She jumped back into rehearsals last month after suffering a health scare this summer that put her in the hospital](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/14/08/75094807-12516991-Pain_She_was_also_seen_with_a_bandage_on_her_knee_and_in_another-a-216_1694675030006.jpg)
Back in action: She jumped back into rehearsals last month after suffering a health scare this summer that put her in the hospital
![World tour: Madonna will kick off her tour in London, followed by stops in Copenhagen, Barcelona, Paris, Milan and more](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/14/08/75094799-12516991-The_gloves_are_off_She_touched_her_chest_as_she_looked_down_whil-a-217_1694675049448.jpg)
World tour: Madonna will kick off her tour in London, followed by stops in Copenhagen, Barcelona, Paris, Milan and more
They added that the run of shows is the pop music icon's 'most ambitious tour ever.'
Madonna will kick off her tour in London, followed by stops in Copenhagen, Barcelona, Paris, Milan and more.
Madonna first announced the Celebration Tour in January.
'I am excited to explore as many songs as possible in hopes to give my fans the show they have been waiting for,' she said in a press release at the time.