We had abandoned Michael Jackson: Madonna

In an emotional tribute to 'King of Pop' Michael Jackson, singer Madonna has said that icon was "abandoned" in the end.

The pop star joined Jackson's sister Janet Jackson to pay a tribute to the pop icon at the 26th MTV Video Music Awards in New York City yesterday.

Madonna, who was in London when Jackson died on June 25 at the age of 50, said that she fell out of touch with the pop icon over the years, Us magazine reported.

"When he passed, all I could think about him in that one moment was, 'I had abandoned him,' that we had abandoned him," Madonna said in a short emotional speech at the award function.

"That we had allowed this magnificent creature that once set the world on fire somehow slip through the cracks. When he was trying to build a family and rebuild his career, we were all busy passing judgement. Most of us had turned our backs on him... Sometimes, we have to lose things before we can truly appreciate them," the singer added.

The 50-year-old singer, who was wearing all black, the singer recalled how they were both born in August of 1958 to large families in the mid-West. The only difference, Madonna said, is that she got to have a childhood and Michael didn't.

Madonna also talked some bitter-sweet moments that she shared with the 'King of Pop' and recalled how she tried to get him to eat French fries, drink and say "bad words."

The pop star ended her speech saying her two sons, Rocco, 9, and David, 4, have become obsessed with Jackson.

"There's a whole lot of crotch grabbing and Moonwalking going on in my house!

"Yes, Michael Jackson was a human being, but dammit, he was a king," she concluded. "Love live the king!" 

At the end of the medley, his sister Janet took the stage and performed an electric version of their 90s duet "Scream."