Madonna Removes Luther Vandross from Celebration Tour AIDS Tribute Following Ask from His Estate

Images of several celebrities who lost their lives to AIDS have been featured on screens as Madonna sings "Live to Tell," an anthem about perseverance, on tour

Madonna has made an adjustment to her Celebration Tour.

The Queen of Pop, 65, removed an image of Luther Vandross from the section of her Celebration Tour that pays tribute to AIDS victims after his estate requested it be taken down, her rep confirms to PEOPLE.

Throughout Madonna's ongoing Celebration Tour, images of several celebrities who lost their lives to AIDS — including Keith Haring, Herb Ritts and Freddie Mercury — have been featured on screens as she sings her 1986 single "Live to Tell," an anthem about perseverance.

Related: Elton John Says He's 'Deeply Moved' by Madonna's 'Heartfelt Tribute' to Lives Lost to AIDS in Celebration Tour

But during her Feb. 24 show in Sacramento, California, the "Here and Now" singer's image was featured, which shocked his estate.

A rep for Vandross' estate told Page Six in a statement that "Luther Vandross passed away in 2005 due to complications from a stroke suffered two years earlier."

The rep added: “While we appreciate Madonna’s recognition of those lives lost to AIDS, Luther was NEVER diagnosed with AIDS or the HIV Virus. We’re not sure where she or her production team received false medical information claiming otherwise. We’re currently in contact with her management to remove Luther Vandross from the tribute."

Related: Madonna Says It's a 'Miracle' She's Able to Tour Post-Hospitalization: 'I Was Given Another Chance'

The Material Girl kicked off her long-awaited Celebration Tour, which celebrates the 40th anniversary of her debut album, at London's O2 Arena in October.

Two weeks into the tour, Elton John took to social media and expressed appreciation for Madonna's continued efforts to speak up about AIDS and those who've died from the disease.

"We're deeply moved by the heartfelt tribute from @madonna during her Celebration Tour performance of ‘Live to Tell’, honouring the 40.4 million people we've lost to AIDS," the 76-year-old icon wrote in a joint statement from his Elton John AIDS Foundation.

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"Thank you, Madonna, for your advocacy and compassion, and for raising important awareness of the ongoing mission to end AIDS. With 39 million people living with HIV today, 9.4 million of whom are not currently on life-saving treatment, we must keep using our voices and platforms to ensure everyone has the opportunity to live full and healthy lives," the post continued.

Madonna has previously used "Live to Tell" to honor those who've lost their lives to AIDS, most notably on the Confessions Tour in 2006, when she performed the song from a large crucifix and displayed facts and statistics about the disease's effect on the world.

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