Madonna: Barack Obama "Black Muslim" Remark Was Meant to Be "Ironic"

Pop superstar explains she was teasing her fellow Americans when she referred to the prez as a muslim

Occasionally when Madonna expresses herself, not everyone gets the joke.

And that's apparently what happened during a concert Monday in Washington, D.C., when the Queen of Pop endorsed President Barack Obama's reelection bid by referring to him as a "black Muslim."

"Now it's so amazing and incredible to think that we have an African-American in the White House…for better or worse we have a black Muslim in the White House…it means there is hope in this country and Obama is fighting for gay rights, so support the man," said Madonna in a YouTube clip posted by fans shortly after the show at the Verizon Center.

Obama is a Christian but the Muslim rumor has persisted as the result of online gossip ginned up by many in the Birther movement, hard-core conservatives challenging his legitimacy to be commander in chief.

But in case anyone misconstrued her statement about the president's beliefs, the 54-year-old hitmaker let it be known in a statement released by her rep that she was being tongue in cheek—and for a reason.

"I was being ironic on stage. Yes, I know Obama is not a Muslim—though I know that plenty of people in this country think he is. And what if he were?" Madonna asked. "The point I was making is that a good man is a good man, no matter who he prays to. I don't care what religion Obama is—nor should anyone else in America."

Sounds clear enough.

The "Girl Gone Wild" singer's North American trek in support of her latest album, MDNA, continues on Saturday with a stop in Vancouver.