Madonna called Michael Jackson a “hero,” a “king” and a “human being” as she opened MTV’s 26th Annual Video Music Awards with a tribute to the King of Pop on Sunday night.

Madge described her early friendship with MJ and said she regretted losing touch with her old friend over time.

“For one reason or another we fell out of touch, then the witch hunt began and it seemed like one story after another came out about Michael,” Madonna said in speaking to the audience.

“I felt his pain, I know what it’s like to walk down the street and feel like the whole world is turned against you,” she continued. “I know what it’s like to feel hopeless and not able to defend yourself because the roar of the witch hunt is so loud you’re convinced your voice can never be heard except I had a childhood and was allowed to make mistakes and find my own way in the world without being in the spotlight.”

“There’s a whole lot of crotch grabbing and moon-walking in my house,” Madonna jokingly remarked of her two sons, Rocco and David, who are big fans of Michael’s music. “He was a king, but he was also a human being. … Long live the king.”