Madonna, the pop diva, paid a personal tribute to the late king of pop Michael Jackson at the opening of the MTV Video Music Awards 2009 in New York. In her tribute she accused herself and the world of abandoning Michael Jackson.

Madonna spoke describing her early friendship with MJ and she said that she regretted loosing lost touch with him over the time.

The Music hitmaker said to the audience in the award ceremony, “For one reason or another we fell out of touch, then the witchhunt began and it seemed like one story after another came out about Michael. I felt his pain, I know what it’s like to walk down the street and feel like the whole world is turned against you.”

She further mentioned, “I know what it’s like to feel hopeless and not able to defend yourself because the roar of the witchhunt is so loud you’re convinced your voice can never be heard.”

Madonna also spoke what she emotionally felt when she heard the death news of Michael Jackson.

She said that when she first came across the shocking news of Michael Jackson, she was in London where MJ was also supposed to perform (the same venue) a week later. The news made her think about how she had abandoned Michael.

She added further, “While he was trying to build a family and rebuild his career, we were all busy passing judgment, most of us had turned our backs on him. Sometimes, we have to lose things before we can truly appreciate them… There will never be anyone like him ever again, he was a king. Long live the king.”

The award ceremony also had a musical tribute to Michael Jackson. The music videos of MJ such as Thriller and Bad were played on big screen and performers dressed like Michael Jackson danced in MJs signature style.

The dance performers were also joined by Jackson’s sister Janet Jackson.