For a safe part of the twentieth C , television award ceremony were the ultimate in predictability and decorum . Despite the occasional spontaneous mo — like the streaker who ambled behind David Nivenduringthe 1974 Oscars program — the pass out of trophy for cultural or societal accomplishment was not considered to be rife with the potential for scandal .
Madonna alter all that .
On September 14 , 1984 , during the first MTV Video Music Awards observance , the new - democratic singer performed her hit “ Like a Virgin . ” Already controversial due its subject field affair , the song would provide a path for the Material Girl , MTV , and pop civilization to demolish sexual taboos on television . And while Madonna deserves credit for being a venturous and reform-minded artist , the scandal she caused happened mostly by chance event .
The Birth of an Icon
It ’s gruelling to disassociate the rise of MTV from Madonna herself . The medicine cable television channel premier on August 1 , 1981 , with an eye on popularizing the short - form music TV , which up until that time had been little more than a novelty . Though record companies were tedious to catch on , viewers cause the visual nickelodeon concept immediately . The channel ’s first picture , “ Video Killed the Radio Star ” by the Buggles , proved prophetical : Americans want their MTV .
When MTV debuted , Madonna Ciccone was about toturn23 years old . behave in Bay City , Michigan , she was sandwich between a sexual love for trip the light fantastic toe as a word form of creative expression and a stanchly Catholic upbringing — a contradiction that would play out throughout her calling .
After propel to New York City , Madonna hear organizing band before settling on being a solo act . Her first big single , “ Everybody , ” hit number one on the dance charts in 1982 . That was come after by her debut album , Madonna , in 1983 , and more hits like “ Lucky Star ” and “ Holiday . ” In November 1984 , she released her second record album , Like a Virgin .
In between , there was anopportunityto pop up up on MTV ’s first - ever Video Music Awards . At the time , the channel was still picture out its identity . rather of hip host , the internet choose for Dan Aykroyd and Bette Midler to lead the initiative VMA proceeding ; ZZ Top were among the headliners . Cyndi Lauper , Eddie Van Halen , and othersappearedbut did n’t do . And or else of looking to push the envelope , the net actuallysigneda syndication plenty to air out the show on local video stations on the assumption it would be a relatively harmless affair .
The Original Wardrobe Malfunction
Madonna was book toopenthe show , which was to be support at Manhattan ’s famed Radio City Music Hall in New York . She insisted on singing “ Like a Virgin ” from her approaching album , which MTV agree to . She also want to serenade a giant Bengal tiger , which they did n’t .
rather , Madonna satirized the virginal white tradition of westerly marriage ceremony observance , come forth on point from a towering hymeneals bar and draped in a night-robe , stilettos , and a bustier . ( The costume was designed by her personal hairdresser , Maripol , who was in attendance . )
As shebeganto sing while descending the multi - layered bar , one of her stiletto shoes commence loose ; she kicked off the other . By the time she made it to the stage floor , she needed a way to recover her shoe in front of the 5882 multitude in attendance .
“ So I thought , ‘ Well , I ’ll just profess I mean to do this , ’ and I dove on the floor and I rolled around , ” Madonna later differentiate lecture show host Jay Leno in 2012 .
The trouble with essay to seize the shoe was that the routine of flop to the floor caused her stately wedding dress to hike itself up , let on her undergarment to the telly cameras .
According to Maripol , MTV ’s production crew seized the opportunity . Rather than address it like a closet malfunction and ignore away , they soar in .
Seizing the Moment
alternatively of recommitting to her modus operandi , Madonna embraced the potential to make a moment . She began gyrating on the base in a way that left little dubiousness what she was signify to mime . She got back on her feet but soon returned to the floor before finishing the song while lay on her back . Nobody would be fox her for ZZ Top .
The show veer back to Midler , who had a pointed reaction . “ Well , now that the burn question of Madonna ’s virginity has been answered … ” shesaid , before dog off .
Today , that sort of incitement would hardly go noticed . In 1984 , it was enough for music diligence veterans to meditate that Madonna ’s career was over . At the show , her publiciser , Liz Rosenberg , fielded random people coming up and telling her that her client had made a immense mistake .
Even Madonna ’s then - manager , Freddy DeMann , was raging with her . “ He was bloodless with anger , he was so upset , ” Madonna said . “ He say , ‘ That ’s it , you ’ve ruined your career ’ … I did n’t even cognise that my butt was show . I could n’t compute everything that had happened . And since I did n’t really have a life history yet , I did n’t feel that I had fall behind anything . ”
Obviously , the hysterical reaction were wildly off target . diary keeper began crow about Madonna and her show - stealing performance;Like a Virginwas a strike , reaching number 1 on the Billboard chart and becoming the first - ever record album recorded by a womanhood to deal more than 5 million copies . At one point , 17 of the singer ’s songs hit the top 10 consecutively .
Madonna ’s power to stir disputation became a trademark , not a financial obligation . When Pope John Paul II admonished her for the sexually - charged video for “ Like a Prayer ” in 1989 , she only got more publicity . The MTV VMAs pay back a repute for being hip and unpredictable . viewing audience and producers no longer dreaded a prospect like the one Madonna create — they hoped for it .
Madonna made her latest appearance at the 2021 VMAs in an ensemble thatrevealedher posterior , which set off another ado . There may have been more skin on showing , but it would be voiceless for even Madonna to top that initial zeitgeist moment of being a daring new creative person exploring an uncharted culture medium .
