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Madonna responds to Prince tribute critics amid BET shade: 'Deal with it'

By Wade Sheridan
Madonna arrives on the red carpet at the Costume Institute Benefit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2016. After peforming a tribute to Prince at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards, critics and BET have criticized the performance with Madonna firing back on social media, "Deal with it!" Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
1 of 3 | Madonna arrives on the red carpet at the Costume Institute Benefit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2016. After peforming a tribute to Prince at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards, critics and BET have criticized the performance with Madonna firing back on social media, "Deal with it!" Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

LAS VEGAS, May 23 (UPI) -- Madonna has taken to social media to defend her recent Prince tribute performance at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards amid critiques from viewers and network BET.

"Deal with it!" the pop icon wrote Sunday on Instagram alongside a photo of herself donning a colorful flower printed outfit.

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Throughout the night, Madonna shared pics from the performance, which also featured Stevie Wonder, quoting Prince and defending her right to pay tribute to the Purple One.

"Anyone who wants to do a tribute to Prince is welcome to. Whatever your age Gender or skin Color. If you loved him and he inspired you then show it!!!! I love Prince 4 ever," she wrote.

The response comes after a collection of fans voiced their displeasure about the singer performing Prince songs such as "Nothing Compares 2 U," and "Purple Rain." Television network BET joined in on the shading on Twitter promoting their upcoming Prince tribute set to take place at the BET Awards on June 26.

"Yeah, we saw that. Don't worry. We Got You," a teaser video for the tribute proclaimed alongside Prince's likeness and the sound of rain.

The Roots and Tonight Show drummer Questlove defended Madonna on Twitter explaining how there will be multiple award shows that will honor Prince and that Madonna is allowed to say goodbye to the legendary artist in her own way.

"Now anger is in the air w who (in our eyes) is allowed to mourn & how they are allowed to mourn.---none of us were prepared for his death," Questlove wrote amongst a series of tweets. "So I know there is gonna be ALOT of "feel a certain ways" about who you want to see do his music justice---but you gotta put that aside yall."

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"Every Prince rendition will not be a life changing orgasmic xperience. Just to SING his work is brave enough. Again feeling are on high," he continued. "And EVERYBODY wants and deserves a chance to say goodbye in their own way. But remember: there will be AMAs, SoulTrain, NAACP, mtv, GRAMMYS."

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