Pop superstar Madonna has addressed the controversy surrounding the use of a swastika in her world tour, insisting the image was chosen "purposefully".

madonna
Madonna has no regrets about her concert performance which has caused such wrath in France

The singer has come under fire for screening a video which shows a swastika imposed on the face of France's Front National party leader Marine Le Pen during her MDNA trek.

Le Pen has threatened to sue Madonna, who in turn defied the politician's warnings by refusing to edit the footage - WATCH ABOVE.

MORE: Madonna Takes ANOTHER Swing At Gaga - 'I'm Glad I Helped Write It'

Now the Material Girl has defended her decision to include the swastika, a symbol used by Adolf Hitler's Nazi Party.

Madonna tells a Brazilian TV channel, "All images in the video were chosen purposefully... That film that was created is about the intolerance that we human beings have for one another and how much we judge people before knowing them.

"There seems to be a growing intolerance around the world. In Greece, France, everywhere people are trying to kick out all the immigrants, make people cover up and not show what their religious affiliation is. Think about what's going on in Russia towards the gay community."

Madonna maintains it is an artist's responsibility to highlight social issues and "help bring people together".

She adds, "Art is there to track what's going on in the world, to make social commentary... I'm calling attention to that intolerance and asking people to pay attention, to wake up to see how we are just creating more chaos in the world."

Loading Slideshow...
  • Flexible At 50

    Seeing as her 200-person entourage includes <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/16/madonna-mdna-tour-demands_n_1602774.html" target="_hplink">a personal yoga instructor</a>, it's no surprise that Madonna can rock a back bend at the 'Palais Omnisports de Bercy' in Paris on September 1st, 2004

  • Madonna's Infamous Make Out

    Who can forget the kiss seen round the world? Madonna shockingly <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/12/madonna-says-britney-spears-good-kisser-wouldnt-do-it-again_n_1202998.html" target="_hplink">frenched Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera</a> at the 2003 MTV Movie Awards at Radio City Music Hall on August 28th, 2003.

  • Madonna's Giant H&M Ad

    There's no escaping her - an enormous H&M advertisement featuring the queen of pop graced the front of Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood on March 28th, 2007. The pop star teamed up with <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/29/hm-quarterly-earnings_n_1387098.html" target="_hplink">H&M as a designer</a> and is currently <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/21/madonna-truth-or-dare-perfume_n_1162456.html" target="_hplink">coming out with a new fragrance 'Truth or Dare'.</a>

  • Madonna Exposes Herself

    Madonna's been in the news recently for <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/10/madonna-nipple-singer-flashes-nipple-concert_n_1584458.html" target="_hplink">flashing audiences on her 'MDNA Tour,'</a> but at least in Barcelona during her 'Sticky & Sweet Tour' on July 21, 2009 the only thing Madonna flashed was her upper thigh.

  • Madonna vs. Gaga

    It's a good thing <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/13/madonna-lady-gagas-music-reductive_n_1204380.html" target="_hplink">Lady Gaga</a> wasn't around when Madonna worked a pole in Amsterdam during her 'Confessions Tour' on September 3rd, 2006.<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/11/lady-gaga-madonna-born-this-way-video_n_1587198.html" target="_hplink"> Considering their recent feud</a>, Gaga might have received another<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/10/lady-gaga-concussion-hits-head_n_1584770.html" target="_hplink"> blow to the head </a>...

  • Madonna Hates Hydrangeas

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/06/madonna-absolutely-loathe_n_950084.html" target="_hplink">Madonna may loathe hydrangeas</a> but her February 8th, 2006 Grammy performance with The Gorillaz at the Staples Center in Los Angeles proved that she loves to perform.

  • Madonna's World Tour

    At age 53, Madonna is still somehow able to rock a high schoolers' majorette outfit <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/31/madonna-tour-mdna-israel-tel-aviv_n_1560630.html" target="_hplink">during her first stop on her MDNA tour</a> at Abu Dabhi's Yas Island Stadium on June 3rd, 2012.

  • Madonna's Halftime Show Woes

    Madonna has no problem resting on top of LFMAO band member Red Foo's shoulders during her <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/10/madonna-slams-mia-middle-finger-super-bowl_n_1268816.html" target="_hplink">controversial halftime performance at the NFL Super Bowl XLVI </a> on February 5th, 2012

  • Madonna's Fights And Feuds

    Feet in the air without a care in the world, Madonna kicks off 2012 by headlining the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show on February 5, 2012. Little did we know at the time, Madge would <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/25/madonna-ultra-music-festival-video_n_1378510.html" target="_hplink">perform with Avicii</a>, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/26/deadmau5--madonna-molly-ultra-_n_1379437.html" target="_hplink">feud with DeadMau5</a> and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/04/madonnas-marine-le-pen-swastika_n_1567891.html" target="_hplink">France's National Front leader Marine Le Pen </a>all within the first six months of the year.