London, Sep 14 - Pop diva Madonna opened the MTV Video Music Awards 2009 in New York with a personal tribute to late pop legend Michael Jackson, accusing herself and the world of 'abandoning him'.

The 'Music' hitmaker described her early friendship with Jackson and said she regretted the fact she had lost touch with the star over time, reports dailymail.co.uk.

'For one reason or another we fell out of touch, then the witchhunt began and it seemed like one story after another came out about Michael. 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 said to the audience.

'I know what it's like to feel hopeless and not able to defend yourself because the roar of the witchhunt is so loud you're convinced your voice can never be heard,' she added.

She spoke of her emotions when she heard that Jackson had died.

'When I first heard that Michael had died I was in London, days away from the opening of my tour.