Madonna's swastika use at concert angers French party leader
Madonna's tour debut in Israel last week continues to make headlines, with controversy now swirling around the quick display of an image of French political leader Marine Le Pen with a swastika on her forehead.
During her tour kick-off concert last Thursday (5/31) in Tel Aviv, while performing "Nobody Knows Me," Madonna flashed the image during a montage which included photos of other public figures, such as Pope Benedict XVI, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and Chinese leader Hu Jinatao, according to E! Online.
Le Pen, the president of France's third largest political party Front National, has threatened legal action if Madonna shows the image at her France shows next month. The pop superstar is slated to perform July 14 in Paris and Aug. 21 in Nice.
"We understand how old singers who need to get people talking about them go to such extremes," the political leader said, according to the U.K. Daily Mail.
Le Pen took over leadership of the party last year, following her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen. The elder Le Pen has been convicted of racism and anti-Semitism several times, according to The Telegraph. Most recently, the 84-year-old French politician was convicted of contesting crimes against humanity for a 2005 comment in which he called the Nazi occupation of France "not especially inhumane."
Madonna has not responded to the comments, and continues her expansive worldwide run behind "MDNA" Thursday (6/7) in Istanbul, Turkey.
"MDNA," Madonna's 12th studio set, hit stores March 26 and debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 chart. The multiple-award winner will head stateside for a North American trek that begins Aug. 28 in Philadelphia.
7 - Istanbul, Turkey - Turk Telecom Arena
12 - Rome, Italy - Stadio Olimpico
14 - Milan, Italy - Stadio San Siro
16 - Florence, Italy - Stadio Franchi
20, 21 - Barcelona, Spain - Palau Sant Jordi
24 - Coimbra, Portugal - Estadio Cidade de Coimbra
28, 30 - Berlin, Germany - O2 Arena
July 2012
2 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Parken Stadium
4 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Ullevi Stadium
7, 8 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Ziggo Dome
10 - Koln, Germany - Laxness Arena
12 - Brussels, Belgium - Stade Roi-Baudouin
14 - Paris, France - Stade de France
17 - London, United Kingdom - Hyde Park
19 - Birmingham, United Kingdom - NIA
21 - Edinburgh, United Kingdom - Murrayfield Stadium
24 - Dublin, Ireland - Aviva Stadium
29 - Vienna, Austria - Ernst-Happel Stadion
August 2012
1 - Warsaw, Poland - National Stadium
4 - Kiev, Ukraine - Olympic Stadium
7 - Moscow, Russia - Olimpiski Arena
9 - St. Petersburg, Russia - SKK Arena
12 - Helsinki, Finland - Olympic Stadium
15 - Oslo, Norway - Telenor Arena
18 - Zurich, Switzerland - Stadion Letzigrund
21 - Nice, France - Stade Charles-Erhmann
28 - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center
30 - Montreal, Quebec - Bell Centre
September 2012
1 - Quebec City, Quebec - Plains of Abraham
4 - Boston, MA - TD Garden
6, 8 - New York, NY - Yankee Stadium
10 - Ottawa, Ontario - Scotiabank Place
12, 13 - Toronto, Ontario - Air Canada Centre
15 - Atlantic City, NJ - Boardwalk Hall
19, 20 - Chicago, IL - United Center
23, 24 - Washington, DC - Verizon Center
29, 30 - Vancouver, British Columbia - Rogers Arena
October 2012
2, 3 - Seattle, WA - Key Arena
6, 7 - San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion
10, 11 - Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center
13, 14 - Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena
16 - Phoenix, AZ - U.S. Airways Center
18 - Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
20, 21 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
24, 25 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
27 - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Arena
30 - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
November 2012
1 - St. Louis, MO - Scottrade Center
3, 4 - St. Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
6 - Pittsburgh, PA - Consol Energy Center
8 - Detroit, MI - Joe Louis Arena (on sale 3/19)
10 - Cleveland, OH - Quicken Loans Arena
12 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
15 - Charlotte, NC - Time Warner Cable Arena
17 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
19, 20 - Miami, FL - AmericanAirlines
24, 25 - Mexico City, Mexico - Foro Sol
28 - Medellin, Colombia - Estadio Atanasio Giradot
December 2012
1 - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - Parque dos Atletas
4, 5 - Sao Paulo, Brazil - Estadio do Morumbi
9 - Porto Alegre, Brazil - Etadio Olimpico
13, 15 - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Estadio River Plate
19 - Santiago, Chile - Estadio Nacional
22 - Cordoba, Argentina - Estadio Chateau Carreras
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