Madonna’s rocky road on the international film festival circuit continued in England over the weekend when fans booed the Material Girl at the premiere of her movie “W.E.” at the BFI London Film Festival. While the jeers echoed around her, the Madonna said she identified with the subject of her movie, Wallis Simpson, who also was “misunderstood on a global scale.”
According to reports, Madonna was booed by fans who’d waited hours in London’s Leicester Square to see her walk the red carpet Sunday. When Madge finally showed up for the film’s premiere, she swept through the crowd quickly, according to reports, stopping to interact with only “a handful” of onlookers.
The Web site Oh No They Didn’t!, added that Madonna threw flowers to the fans, in an apparent nod to “hydrangea-gate” when she’d dissed a fan at the Venice Film Festival in September who’d dared to present her with a type of flower she “loathed.” But even Madonna’s floral gesture couldn’t win over the crowd as fans also apparently groused that too few flowers were tossed to them.
“I do know what it is like to be misunderstood on a global scale,” Madonna told Sky News, comparing herself to Simpson, who was maligned for her relationship with King Edward VIII. “She lived at a time when women didn’t have the opportunities that they do now. She didn’t have the chance to defend herself, so I’m taking that opportunity now.”
The pop star’s movie was savaged by UK critics at the Venice Film Festival. And rumors that the film would be edited then emerged at the Toronto International Film Festival.