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Madonna Kicks Off NYC Pride With Queer Kiss, Drag Race Stars
The Queen of Pop celebrated her new remix album with drag queens and a makeout session with Tokischa.
Madonna knows how to get the Pride party started!
The Queen of Pop kicked off NYC Pride with a surprise concert on Thursday night at Terminal 5, which featured drag stars as well as a kiss with Tokischa.
The Dominican rapper sealed lips with Madonna during a mashup of "Hung Up" and the former's "Linda," channeling the famous 2003 VMAs moment with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. The pair took it one step further though, with Tokischa kneeling on the stage before Madonna for a steamy Sapphic moment.
\u201cMadonna @Madonna french kissing Tokischa Popola @tokischa_ last night! \ud83d\udd25 @madonnatribe @mtribefrance @MadonnaUndergr @MDNAMafia @m_scrapbook @Madonna_Today @DrownedMadonna @MadonnaTV @newsofM @MadonnaNationX @GregvsMatt #Madonna #FinallyEnoughLove #NYCPride #Pride #Pride2022\u201d— Basti (@Basti) 1656045726
The evening was tied to the upcoming release of Madonna's Finally Enough Album (out August 19), which features remixes of the gay icon's greatest hits. Many of these hits were performed at Terminal 5 by Madge herself -- "Vogue" was her first onstage -- as well as lipsynched by stars of RuPaul's Drag Race. Bob the Drag Queen hosted the event, and Violet Chachki wowed the crowd with a gravity-defying aerial performance to "Justify My Love."
The queer coterie, which also included rapper Saucy Santana and Legendary's Carlos Basquiat, joined Madonna on stage for a "Celebration" finale. There were a few famous faces in the crowd as well, including Bros actor Billy Eichner, designer Christian Siriano, and Legendary's Dashaun Wesley.
\u201cRT @YannyCharleston: I JUST WITNESSED HISTORY @Madonna @SaucySantana_\u201d— v1nny (@v1nny) 1656047828
The event launched NYC Pride but it also celebrated the icon's decades-long career: the walls were plastered with album artwork and even the liquor sponsor, Belvedere, laser-cut the "Material Girl" singer's name into the bottles.
Madonna also gave love to New York during her set. "For so many reasons, I was asked to perform at many Pride events around the world, but I would never, ever turn down New York City because this is the city where I was born. I came out of my mother's vagina in Bay City, Michigan, but I was born in New York City," she told the crowd.
She then burst into a new take on Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York,": "If you can make it here, then you probably are so queer." She also highlighted the most important reason she loves the Big Apple: "We have the best pizza."
NYC Pride runs through Sunday, June 26. Don't miss Out's Pride guide for all the fun and festivities.
RELATED | Here's Your Go-To Guide For All Things NYC Pride 2022
Daniel Reynolds is the editor-in-chief of Out and an award-winning journalist who focuses on the intersection between entertainment and politics. This Jersey boy has now lived in Los Angeles for more than a decade.
Daniel Reynolds is the editor-in-chief of Out and an award-winning journalist who focuses on the intersection between entertainment and politics. This Jersey boy has now lived in Los Angeles for more than a decade.
