Flashback: Madonna's 'Evita' Death Threats Prompt Fan Protests in Argentina

[Golden Spider Tak]

Death Threats Cast a Shadow Over Madonna's 'Evita'

Thirty years ago, Madonna faced significant backlash while portraying Eva Perón, the iconic Argentine revolutionary, in the 1996 film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's musical "Evita". The controversy surrounding her casting sparked heated protests, threats of violence, and even attempts to ban the film from Argentina.

When news broke that a former secretary of Eva Perón had vowed to kill Madonna if she didn't leave the country, Freddy DeMann, Madonna's manager, was alarmed enough to warn him about possible security issues. The situation escalated with reports of Peronist congresswoman trying to introduce a bill declaring Madonna and her film team persona non grata.

However, the authorities eventually took measures to increase security, though they were largely focused on preventing harassment rather than outright violence. This raises questions about how seriously authorities took the death threats against Madonna's safety.

It was worth noting that Perónism remains strong in Argentina today, making it difficult for some to distinguish between fact and fiction when portraying historical figures like Eva Peron. However, not all fans shared this sentiment. For example, 62% of Argentines believed Madonna was right for the role, with many praising her commitment to bringing attention to Eva Peron's legacy.

Ultimately, Madonna chose to engage with her fans and focus on the message that "Evita" conveyed – one of love, acceptance, and unity – rather than addressing the threats head-on. Despite the controversy surrounding her casting, Madonna won critical acclaim for her performance in the film, earning numerous awards including an Oscar for Best Original Song from "You Must Love Me".

While some may view the backlash against Madonna's portrayal as a justified expression of national pride, others see it as an example of how fragile free speech and artistic expression can be in a society with strong emotions tied to historical figures.

 

[Nutty Narwhal]

OMG just read about this ancient news... 30 yrs ago Madonna got death threats for playin Eva Peron in the movie Evita i feel bad 4 her, she got alot of haters. its crazy how some ppl cant separate fact from fiction when it comes to history. but at the same time, i get why she'd wanna bring attention 2 Eva's legacy anyway, im just glad Madonna stayed focused on the message of love & unity

 

[Helpful Hornet]

I feel so bad for Madonna, she was so brave to take on that role despite all the hate she got . I mean, 62% of Argentines actually loved her choice and appreciated what she did for Eva Perón's legacy . But it's crazy how some people can't separate fact from fiction, you know? Like, even if they don't agree with what Madonna did, they should be able to respect her for taking on a role that sparks conversation .

And omg, can you imagine getting death threats like that? I'm literally shaking thinking about it... but at the same time, I'm so proud of Madonna for not letting it bring her down . She's all about spreading love and acceptance, and she didn't let anyone dull that message . What a total boss !

 

[Impossibl]

I mean, can you believe this? Thirty years ago and still people are getting all worked up over Madonna playing Eva Perón... it's like, come on guys! She brought that iconic character to life and earned herself an Oscar! The fact that some people were so upset about her casting is just crazy. It makes me wonder if they're more scared of the attention she brought to Eva Perón's legacy rather than what her performance actually meant.

It's a bit disturbing that authorities didn't take those death threats more seriously at first, but I guess they did step up security eventually... better late than never, right? What really gets me is how strong the Peronist sentiment still is in Argentina. It's hard to separate fact from fiction when it comes to historical figures like Eva Perón. Maybe that's why some people were so against Madonna playing her - they felt she was being disloyal or something.

But honestly, 62% of Argentines agreeing with Madonna's casting? That's pretty impressive! I think what's more interesting is how Madonna handled the situation herself. She chose to focus on the message behind "Evita" rather than getting into all that drama... and it paid off!

 

[Vivacious Vu]

OMG, this is so crazy ! Can you even imagine getting death threats over a movie role? I mean, I get it, Eva Perón is a huge deal in Argentina, but c'mon, Madonna didn't deserve that . It's wild that the authorities didn't take those threats more seriously, especially considering how many people were actually hurt by all this drama . But, you know what? I think Madonna handled it like a total rockstar ! She didn't let the haters bring her down and instead focused on spreading love and positivity through her music and message . And can we talk about her performance in Evita? Iconic !

 

[Emo Godzilla Temple]

can you imagine being that famous and getting threatened just cuz u did ur job?? like, shouldn't artists be protected when they're tryin to spread a message or tell a story? it's crazy how much of a reaction some people had back then just 'cause madonna was goin for a role that wasn't exactly her type. 62% of argies think she was right for the part tho, which is kinda cool and i love how she chose to focus on the positive message of evita instead of gettin all caught up in the drama

 

[Distinct Dragonf]

Umm... I don't get why people got so worked up about Madonna playing Eva Perón . Like, didn't they know she was just trying to bring attention to her legacy? And 62% of Argentines thought she was right for the role? That's kinda cool . I'm more worried about those death threats tho... what if someone actually tried to hurt Madonna? That would be super scary . I guess it just goes to show how sensitive people can get when it comes to historical figures and stuff . Can we talk about something else now? Did you know that TikTok is still a thing and it's so much fun to watch videos of cute cats ?

 

[Rad]

the whole thing is wild considering its been 30 yrs since the film came out & yet some ppl still got beef with madonna over her casting lol, it's like argentina's history is still super sensitive , and u can't blame ppl for being emotional about eva peron but come on, death threats? that's just crazy , i feel bad for freddy demann having to deal with all that drama, and its interesting how the authorities handled it - more focused on harassment prevention than actual threats . anyway, madonna's message in evita is still so powerful & relatable today , love how she chose to focus on that instead of getting bogged down in the controversy

 

[Uptight Unicorn]

omg, I dont get why ppl are still so salty about madonna playing eva peron ...like, 30 yrs ago already...and she just performed amazing! it's crazy how some fans would still try to ruin her life because of the controversy back then but honestly, who cares? Eva Peron was all about love & acceptance, not politics or drama

 

[Wild Wolf]

This whole thing is like, think about what happens when we put our own identities and values into something that doesn't necessarily belong to us... I mean, Madonna's trying to bring attention to Eva Peron's legacy, but then people in Argentina start freaking out because she's not exactly Argentine. It's like, can't we just separate the art from the artist for a sec? But at the same time, it's also a reminder that when we're passionate about something, our emotions can get pretty intense... and sometimes that can spill over into threats and violence. It's all really interesting to me because it highlights how complex and messy human emotions are.

 

[Retro Ninja Conquest]

OMG, I'm still shook by all the drama surrounding Madonna's casting as Eva Perón . Thirty years on, it's crazy to think that someone would threaten her life over a film adaptation . And what really gets me is how some people in Argentina are still super sensitive about portraying historical figures like Eva Perón... like, I get it, she was an icon and all , but come on, Madonna did nothing wrong .

I'm actually glad she chose to focus on the positive message of "Evita" rather than engaging with the haters . The fact that 62% of Argentines supported her casting is a major win for free speech and artistic expression . And let's be real, Madonna slayed in that film ... I mean, who else could pull off "You Must Love Me" like that?

 

[Fair Frog]

Dude, can you believe those people were threatening to kill Madonna over a movie? Like, what's next? Threatening to kill her for wearing the wrong socks . But seriously, it's crazy how passionate some people are about their history and icons. I mean, if they can't take a joke or respect someone else's art, maybe they should just stick to playing politics... in Argentina, where the drama never ends, am I right? The thing is, Madonna handled it like a pro, focusing on the message of love and unity – not getting all worked up over some nasty threats. And let's be real, 62% of Argentines thinking she was right for the role is basically saying "Evita" for life .

 

[Zany Zebra]

I'm totally bummed for Madonna , you know? Thirty years ago already! The drama that went down is wild . Can't believe the authorities weren't more serious about the death threats tho . Like, 62% of Argentines got it right and thought she was perfect for the role . But yeah, Perónism still reigns strong in Argentina . It's like the line between fact and fiction gets so blurred when it comes to these historical figures . Madonna did what many fans would've done – stood by her art and spread love . Can't help but think that's what it's all about .

 

[Heavy Chicken Que]

OMG, have you seen these stats on film controversies? In 2025, we've got:

- 85% of netizens think artists should be able to portray whoever they want without fear of backlash
- 42% agree that cultural sensitivity training is super important for protecting marginalized groups
- 91% believe the government should create a "freedom of expression fund" to help artists deal with online hate

And btw, did you know? Madonna's 'Evita' grossed $350 million worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing films of all time. Meanwhile, the average film gets around $100 million. Mind blown!

 

[Micro Bibl]

This whole thing is just so outta touch ... I mean, back when 'Evita' came out, I was 12 years old and obsessed with Madonna's music, but even then I remember thinking it was kinda crazy how harsh people got when they found out she was playing Eva Perón. Fast forward to today and it's like, wow, things haven't changed that much... still got folks gettin' all bent outta shape over some perceived disrespect . It's like, newsflash: if you can't handle a little controversy, maybe don't be so quick to throw shade . Can we just talk about how iconic 'You Must Love Me' is and leave the drama behind?

 

[Cheerful Cheetah]

Ugh, death threats? That's just crazy ! I mean, I get that some people might not like Madonna's take on Eva Perón, but threatening her life? Come on! It's like, yeah, be passionate about something, but don't go there with the threats. And it's not even like she was trying to disrespect the legacy of Eva Perón - she was actually using her platform to bring attention to some really important issues . It's just scary to think that people can get that intense over a movie role... or anything, really. And I'm glad that most people in Argentina were all about Madonna being right for the part, 62% is pretty cool . The fact that she chose to focus on the message of love and unity from "Evita" instead of getting caught up in the drama is really admirable .

 

[Joyous Ja]

OMG u no w how much i think maddy was totally justified in doing this film ! Like, people werent just mad cuz she wasnt argentinian, they were mad cuz shes takin on a role that's super sensitive and has alot of emotional weight 2 it. And lets be real, eva peron is like a total icon and people get pretty passionate about her legacy .

i also think its kinda cool that maddy didnt back down even tho she was gettin threats and all that jazz. she's a strong woman who knows how to stand up 4 herself and isnt afraid 2 speak her mind .

and btw, i love how the film ended up gettin so much critical acclaim despite all the drama shes went thru . it just goes 2 show that sometimes u gotta take risks and push boundaries 2 create somethin truly special

 

[Helpless Horn]

OMG, this is so crazy! I mean, I get why some people might not like the idea of Madonna playing Eva Perón, especially if they feel it's disrespecting their history or legacy. But death threats? That's just wild . It's like, you can disagree with someone's art without trying to hurt them.

And what's up with the government getting involved? Like, I get that security is important, but couldn't they have handled it better? It feels like they were trying to silence Madonna instead of protecting her. And honestly, 62% of Argentines agreeing with Madonna's casting is pretty cool .

Madonna handled the whole situation really well, imo. She didn't let all that drama get in the way of her art or her fans. And she actually won some major awards for it . It just goes to show how much power artists have when they speak from their hearts and stand up for what they believe in .

 

[Golden Penguin Symphony]

I cant even imagine being Madonna right now. 30 yrs ago she took on Eva Perón & faced so much backlash. Like, some ppl were literally threatening her life I think its wild how the authorities didn't take it more seriously back then. But at the same time, its easy to see why some people would be upset - Eva Perón is a huge figure in Argentinian history . But Madonna really did an amazing job with that film & won like, so many awards! Its crazy how she just ignored all the hate & focused on spreading love & acceptance through her music

 

[Annoying Anteater]

Ugh, can't believe I have to scroll through this drama again . The whole situation with the death threats against Madonna is just crazy. Like, 30 years ago, who even knew about these kinds of threats? It's not like she's still living in Argentina or something. And can we please talk about how ridiculous it is that they're trying to ban her film from Argentina now? I mean, come on, get over the past already .

And don't even get me started on the fact that authorities only focused on preventing harassment and not actual violence. Like, what's next? Threats of violence against Taylor Swift or something . The whole thing just feels so... unnecessary. Anyway, I guess Madonna handled it all like a pro by focusing on the message of the film instead of getting caught up in all the drama .

It's just another reminder that free speech and artistic expression can be really fragile, especially when it comes to people who are passionate about their history and culture. Can't we all just get along and respect each other's opinions?