Madonna wanted to appear on a boat during Amsterdam's Pride festivities, but Mayor Femke Halsema turned down the request, according to Mediacourant.nl.
The report, published Wednesday, says the pop star's team had sought a spot on a Pride canal boat. Halsema, Amsterdam's mayor, reportedly rejected the idea. Mediacourant.nl did not specify why the request was denied or which boat was involved.
The news comes after Madonna performed at the World Pride Music Festival in Amsterdam, where Kylie Minogue joined her as a surprise guest, according to NOS. During the set, Madonna asked the crowd, "Is this gay heaven?" from the stage, as reported by NRC.
Following the joint appearance, Madonna and Minogue released a remix together, NU reported. De Telegraaf described the moment as a piece of pop history that the outlet was glad to cover.
The Pride boat request appears to have been separate from the festival performance. Mediacourant.nl's report focuses on the mayor's rejection, while other outlets covered the concert and the subsequent music release.
The exact timeline of the boat request is unclear from the available reporting. It is also not known whether Madonna's team pursued alternative arrangements after the mayor's refusal.
The story adds a behind-the-scenes detail to what was otherwise a widely covered Pride event in Amsterdam. The festival drew attention for its lineup and the surprise Minogue appearance, which generated its own headlines.
What to watch next: Whether Madonna or the mayor's office responds publicly to the report about the rejected boat request.
