Madonna began rehearsing for the Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv on Wednesday – despite not yet signing a contract to appear at the show.
The singer posted a few short clips to her Instagram page and story midday Wednesday showing her preparing for the show.
“Madame X is preparing something special for her fans,” she wrote, referencing the name of her upcoming album. The singer landed late Tuesday night in Tel Aviv aboard the private jet of Israeli-Canadian billionaire Sylvan Adams, who is the man funding Madonna’s appearance at the song competition.
A spokeswoman for KAN told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday that Madonna began rehearsals despite having not yet signed on the dotted line.
“She hasn’t signed yet; we hope that tonight they will make progress,” she said Wednesday afternoon. As of 10 o’clock Wednesday night, the spokeswoman said that a deal still hadn’t been inked with the singer.
The Erev Tov with Guy Pines show reported Wednesday evening that the singer was clashing with the European Broadcasting Union over anti-Christian imagery in her song, “Like A Prayer.”
Later Wednesday afternoon, Madonna uploaded another short clip to Instagram showing her in a leather-looking and meta-adorned outfit that she wrote was “inspired by Joan of Arc,” tagging haute couture designer Jean Paul Gaultier, who will be dressing her for the performance.
Madonna is slated to perform at the grand final of the Eurovision this Saturday night. Israeli media reports ndicated that she will not appear at the two ticketed rehearsal shows on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, unlike the rest of the performers in the final.
At a press conference on Monday, Eurovision executive supervisor Jon Ola Sand said that, without a contract, Madonna would not be able to perform.
“If we do not have a signed contract, she cannot perform on our stage,” he said. “We are in a situation now that is a bit strange. We have an artist who would like to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, and who we would love to welcome on that stage. But for that, we need to have the framework secured.”