Iconic Spanish film director Pedro Almodóvar has been spending his time in quarantine reflecting on his life and career in a series of essays, one of which was recently published by Indiewire.
In it, the Academy Award-winning filmmaker spills some major tea about Madonna and that time he and Antonio Banderas were tricked into appearing in her 1991 documentary Truth or Dare.
“I went out with her the days she spent in Madrid,” he recalls. “I organized a big flamenco party for her… She had made it very clear to me that, aside from myself, she was only interested in meeting one other guest, Antonio Banderas.”
Related: WATCH: Madonna calls COVID-19 ‘the great equalizer’ in bizarre, deleted bathtub video
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Almodóvar promised Madonna that Banderas would be in attendance, “I promised her that Antonio would be there, but I didn’t tell her that I couldn’t invite him without his then-wife, Ana Leza, a huge fan of the singer.”
He goes on to explain that Madonna insisted on making the seating chart, and that she placed herself right between Almodóvar and Banderas at the main table. Ana Leza, however, was relegated to “the table furthest away.”
“Madonna did not pay attention to anybody else,” Almodóvar continues.“Ana dared to get close to our table and told the divine blonde sarcastically, ‘I see you like my husband, it doesn’t surprise me, all women like him, but I don’t mind because I am very modern.’ To which Madonna replied: ‘Get lost.’”
Oh, but it doesn’t stop there.
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Almodóvar, who insists he’s not out to settle any scores, says that Madonna never explained why she brought a film crew to his party, other than to say it was “for a keepsake.”
“If it had been the other way round (me filming Madonna and her team and making a film with all that material which I would then premiere around the world) I would have taken such a hit in the form of a lawsuit I’d still be recovering from it.”
“Madonna treated us like simpletons and I had to say it one day,” Almodóvar continues. “She didn’t ask for permission to use our images, and she even dubbed me, because my English mustn’t have been that good.”
Madonna hasn’t responded to Almodóvar’s essay.
Relive in the moment below.
Troysky
The “get lost” comment made me blast out laughing.
ShiningSex
Well Madonna is trash after all
ScottOnEarth
Same here. After watching that scene about a million times, she clearly had it for Antonio and nothing was going to get in her way. Too funny.
joycejocampo
It is very boring for me, talk to me! ?? Write me. ? Maybe we will make friends ?? ??Looking for hook up with a stranger! ?? Ready for any experiments! ?? –==>>>2.gp/a71Bz
ptb2010
The other amusing thing is that in spite of her appalling behaviour Madonna didn’t realise Antonio spoke not a word of English at the time so remained oblivious to most of her advances!
Man About Town
That made her rather lucky, because if he had understood English, I wonder how he would have reacted to her telling his wife to “Get lost!”
ShiningSex
That’s how trashy Madonna is.
So over her. She was relevant for maybe 10 years. That’s all.
HmphGay
While I agree she no longer holds much sway in pop culture these days, it’s a bit revisionist and certainly inaccurate to claim she was relevant for “10 years only”. I would say her last period of wide influence and popularity was the 3rd phase of her career in the early aughts (from Ray of Light to Confessions on a Dance Floor). That would extend her era to 2005 which means almost 25 years…a quarter of a century is not bad! Considering she got you to make a comment now in 2020…how irrelevant is she really to you? 🙂
Slipperyslope
I’m surprised she hasn’t commented? Usually, any chance a narcissist get’s to talk about herself, especially ones whose careers sunsetted years ago is highly unusual.
Chrisk
That’s it? Yes. Madonna was a major star and Diva aka bitch then. Everyone knew and no one cared. They just wanted to be around her.
JPB
Antonio Banderas! A total Adonis in those days – Madonna nowhere in his class.
JesseBenz22
Well, Antonio must’ve been OK with the exchange because he went on to work with Madonna in “Evita” six years later.
It’s weird to think of the days when Madonna was a big star and at the center of pop music and culture and could get away with behaving like this.
khan72
MADONNA is broken, she always has been
The whole fame, rich, bitch persona that she is desperate to push, it is to disguise the fact that SHE IS BROKEN
nitejonboy
Madonna is and has always been a piece of trash…I regret all the time I wasted worshipping her as a pre-teen and teen and into my early 20’s, glad I got over that eventually and now listen to decent music and give my attention to people who actually do some good in this world. Fuk that piece of trash.
garybw
Her show in San Diego a couple of year ago was horrible. Sets were ratty, dancers bumping into each other. She was out of breath so many times. Thank god I didn’t pay for my ticket. I’m a hard pass on her in the future.
cablesforless
hi
Rock-N-RollHS
Another QT story plagiarized from another source days after it initially appeared! What a low overhead you have!
Ricanthony
So much hate for Madonna. She isn’t trash. She is far from irrelevancy. She’s also human. I’m sure most of you are simpletons as well.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
A celebrity is a biitch…..
SHOCKING!!!!
This is a woman who has been an outspoken supporter and advocate for all things Gay since day one. In a time when our President refused to utter the word “AIDS” she was outspoken and raising money for those affected….
I realize a good amount of comments on this site now are generated by repugnantnoxious smcubag organized toll pukes.
But for any Gay man to disrespect and spew vitrol and hatred towards a true ally of our community, and to the authors of these constant threads bashing her when we are under unprecedented attacks emanating from the Orange Turd currently infecting the Oval Office…..
You are an ignorant ungrateful, petty, unappreciative pretty crappy individual…
rocknstan
Yes! How quickly people forget! She and the gay community have always had a symbiotic relationship. She was there for us when we had far fewer allies than we have today.
MikeM
Madonna is the soundtrack to my life. I love her and always will.
JesseBenz22
Let’s not forget, though, there was also a lot of cultural appropriation on her part — take “Vogue,” for example, which originated in the queer black and Latinx communities.
Was she ever being sincere in her support? Hard to say.
david toussaint
Pedro seems to forget, conveniently, that everyone had to consent to be filmed for her project. Otherwise, she’d have been sued by half the world. No one had a gun to his head. He’s more than likely simply trying to drum up publicity or simply behaving in a very immature fashion.