Madonna on Elton John: I "Forgive Him" for Calling Me a "Fairground Stripper"

USMagazine, Friday, August 24, 2012, 1:00pm (PDT)

Madonna is extending an olive branch to Elton John.

Two weeks after John, 65, denounced the Material Girl as a "f---king fairground stripper" and said her career was "over, Madonna, 54, has forgiven her fellow pop icon for his insults.

PHOTOS: Nasty celeb feuds

"I forgive him," Madonna told a crowd of concertgoers in Nice, France Tuesday, when dedicating her performance of "Masterpiece" to John. "I know he's a big fan of it. And I know he's a big fan of mine. And you know? I forgive him. Gotta start somewhere."

Madonna's choice of song to dedicate to her frenemy is an interesting one. Earlier this year, she was awarded a Golden Globe for the ballad, which was included in her directorial effort, W.E. She beat out John's song with Bernie Taupin, "Hello Hello" from Gnomeo & Juliet, for the trophy.

PHOTOS: How Madonna's face has changed

After John missed out on a Globe, his husband, David Furnish, publicly slammed her victory and acceptance speech. "Madonna winning Best Original Song truly shows how these awards have nothing to do with merit. Her acceptance speech was embarrassing in its narcissism," Furnish wrote on his Facebook page. "And her criticism of Gaga shows how desperate she really is."

PHOTOS: Elton and David through the years

Furnish refers to Madonna's heir apparent, Lady Gaga, who is the godmother to their son, Zachary. "She's amazing," John has said of Lady Gaga, 26, who has also been the subject of digs from Madonna. "Wherever she is in the world she sends texts saying, 'How is he?' She comes and bathes him and sings to him. She's a good godmother, she really pays attention."

This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Madonna on Elton John: I "Forgive Him" for Calling Me a "Fairground Stripper"