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