It’s been over 36 years since Madonna released her highly controversial music video for her hit song “Like a Prayer,” and it’s still being talked about.
During a panel appearance at 90s Con in Hartford, Conn., on Saturday, March 29, Cool Runnings actor Leon Robinson was asked about what it was like working on the music video, which was condemned by religious groups for its sexual themes inside a church as well as visual moments of Madonna dancing in front of burning crosses.
Robinson, 63, played a saint inspired by Martin de Porres, the patron saint of mixed-race people. In the video, he starts as a statue inside a church before he comes to life — eventually, he and Madonna, 66, kiss.
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“My time with Madonna was great. We were friends, we hung out,” Robinson said at 90s Con. “The video was kind of tough because I actually had to come back and reshoot the video like weeks later because Warner Bros. said the statue didn’t look enough like me so they had to make a mold on my face so you can see my actual eyes come to life and the blood coming out of my eyes.”
After the video was released, it caused quite the stir. Madonna had also partnered with Pepsi for a commercial that featured the song, but because of the backlash, the TV spot was ultimately canceled.
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According to Robinson, the moment in his career was “a big change” for him, adding: “It was my first taste of international fame. I had to do interviews from all around the world. I had an interpreter with me all the time. It was crazy because I thought the video — because it was Madonna’s comeback video, and I heard the song, and I like the song — [was] gonna be No. 1.”
However, it quickly became “the biggest news story” at the time.
“It was my first brush of real international fame,” Robinson continued. “It also was a time when videos had a lot more power. Music videos were huge.”
Then, the actor revealed he almost didn’t do the project at all. “That was the reason why I didn’t wanna do the video,” he said. “I passed on it twice because they came to my agent and I guess they were scouting men all around the world — models, all kind of stuff — and they came to me, and I was like, ‘I’m a serious actor. What am I doing dancing in a video with Madonna?’ And then they came back to me again. They’re like, ‘No, we just need a feature film director. I think they want you to act.’ And I said, ‘You want me to act?’ I said, ‘OK, I’ll have a conversation.’”
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On the 30th anniversary of its release, Madonna reflected on the controversy on social media.
“30 years ago today I released Like a Prayer and made a video that caused so much controversy because I kissed a black saint and danced in front of burning crosses! I also made a commercial with PEPSI that was banned because my video was seen as inappropriate,” she wrote. “Happy Birthday to Me and Controversy!”
90s Con is taking place March 28-30 at the Connecticut Convention Center.
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