Madonna sparks outrage with AI-generated images featuring Pope Francis

Madonna has ignited controversy yet again by sharing AI-generated images featuring Pope Francis. 

In a provocative Instagram Story post, the 66-year-old pop icon shared two digitally altered photos depicting the Pope seemingly getting handsy with her, accompanied by captions like "Going into the weekend like..." and "Feels Good to Be Seen."

Photo: Instagram Story

The images, which feature Madonna in her signature corset and elaborate jewelry, have divided fans and critics alike. Some labeled the post as edgy humor, while others condemned it as "unethical" and "a desperate bid for clout." Social media users flooded platforms like X with reactions, including comments such as “What is wrong with her?” and “AI HAS GONE TOO FAR.”

This move comes amid Madonna’s decades-long clash with the Catholic Church, which began in the late 1980s with her Like a Prayer music video, featuring burning crosses and an erotic depiction of Jesus. The Vatican condemned the video at the time, and Pope John Paul II urged a boycott of her 1990 Blond Ambition tour.

Madonna's contentious history with the Church continued with her 2006 mock crucifixion during a concert in Rome, leading Cardinal Ersilio Tonino to call for her excommunication.

In May 2022, Madonna tweeted Pope Francis, asking to meet and discuss her "blasphemous" past, claiming, “I’m a good Catholic. I swear!” Despite her attempts to reconcile, her recent post has reignited debates about the boundaries of art, religion, and ethics.

As Madonna faces backlash for her AI-generated images, she once again demonstrates her ability to polarize audiences and challenge societal norms.