Madonna On Paris Attacks: "Why Am I Up Here Dancing and Having Fun When People Are Crying?"

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A devastated Madonna took the stage in Stockholm on Saturday night as part of her Rebel Heart Tour and delivered a powerful speech about the attacks on Paris . Madonna, who at times almost broke down in tears, told a stadium filled with fans that she almost cancelled the show and had difficulty performing that evening. 

This whole show is about celebrating life and standing up for your rights, fighting for what you believe in....It's been very hard for me to get through this show up to this point and not forget about what happened last night, so I need to take this moment to acknowledge the tragedy, the tragic killings, assassinations and the senseless endings of precious life that occurred last night in Paris....It's disturbed me all day. And it's been really hard actually to get through the show because in many ways I feel...torn. Why am I up here dancing and having fun when people are crying over the loss of their loved ones?  

She told fans she almost decided to cancel the show but then said "Why should I give that to them?" she asked. "Why should I allow them to stop me, to stop us, from enjoying freedom?"she asked.  

That is exactly what these people want to do. They want to shut us up. They want to silence us. And we won't let them. We will never let them! Because there is power in unity and I do believe that as much chaos and pain and senseless violence and terrorism that occurs around this world – not just in Paris – as much as that does occur, there is much goodness in this world. We are here to prove it.

She finished the speech with an acoustic version of "Like a Prayer" after asking the audience for a moment of silence as well. 

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