Madonna celebrates 40 years in the music industry, but her career has certainly not been without controversy

For many, Madonna is a pop culture icon who has always pushed the boundaries in terms of fashion and artistry in her music videos across her 40-year-career.

For others, both the Queen of Pop’s actions and words connoting sexual and religious themes may have crossed the line one too many times, focusing more on making an impression or trying to shock the global fanbase than the true meaning of her lyrics and staying true to her religion.

People’s opinions on the legendary diva and pop star are more pressing than ever as Madonna not only announces her 40th anniversary tour but also appears on the cover of Vanity Fair’s first-ever ‘icon’ issue.

The ‘Like a Virgin’ singer is pictured recreating the Last Supper within the magazine’s spread, with Madonna taking on the role of Jesus surrounded by 12 apostles; in addition to the front cover, emulating a near-perfect imagery to the traditional religious view of Mary, the mother of Jesus, with a heart pierced by seven wounds or swords.

Notably, it may be important to remember that the name ‘Madonna’ in Christian art is a representation of the Virgin Mary, but is usually “restricted to those representations that are devotional rather than narrative, and that show her in a non-historical context and emphasise later doctrinal or sentimental significance,” states Britannica.

So in light of this, although there has been praise for Madonna celebrating her lustrous career and continuing to decorate her faith with Vanity Fair, there has been vast backlash against her pictures, with fans citing the spread as ‘disrespectful’ and ‘offensive’.

Numerous other comments have been made including, ‘you are mocking Jesus,’ and ‘absolute blasphemy depicting Mary and Jesus on your covers. Disgusting.’

While Madonna was raised in a strict Catholic household, she has been known to incorporate spiritual references from an abundance of religions including Hinduism, Buddhism and Kabbalah, as well as undertake their various practices.

However, doubts have been raised as to whether Madonna truly practises these religions or uses them as a selling point for her music as it has become synonymous with her image over the four decades - echoed by the current Vanity Fair criticism.

Always seen wearing a cross, Madonna started out celebrating her religion by releasing songs such as ‘Like A Prayer’ or ‘Papa Don’t Preach’, with the former said to describe, ‘a passionate young girl so in love with God that it is almost as though he were the male figure in her life.’

In an interview with the Rolling Stone in 1989, Madonna said: “Sometimes I'm wracked with guilt when I needn't be, and that, to me, is left over from my Catholic upbringing. Because in Catholicism you are born a sinner and you are a sinner all of your life. No matter how you try to get away from it, the sin is within you all the time."

Crucially, this remark came the same year tensions rose to new levels with the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, after he condemned Madonna for her ‘blasphemous’ behaviour in the ‘Like A Prayer’ music video.

The 1989 music video depicted burning crosses and an erotic depiction of Jesus and was subsequently banned by the Vatican, while Pope John Paul II similarly encouraged fans to boycott Madonna’s Blond Ambition tour due to her ‘insulting’ connotations.

Making light of the situation, Madonna tagged Pope Francis in a tweet stating: “Hello @Pontifex Francis – I’m a good Catholic. I Swear! I mean I don’t Swear! Its [sic] been a few decades since my last confession. Would it be possible to meet up one day to discuss some important matters? I’ve been excommunicated three times. It doesn’t seem fair. Sincerely Madonna.”

One of the excommunications mentioned took place off the back of a concert in 2006 where Madonna staged a mock crucifixion, with the star branded as taking it ‘too far’.

Therefore, with Madonna coming under fire for her recent Vanity Fair article, it should come as no surprise to fans, as Madonna’s consistent and more elaborate references and obsession with the faith has seemingly come full circle.

But could this be Madonna's plan? The controversy has carried her to a hugely successful 40-year-career and has cemented her iconic status.