Music icon Madonna has sparked controversy yet again after using the word "gay" to describe Russian President Vladimir Putin and the leafy green vegetable kale.

The Vogue hitmaker played a word association game with editors at Buzzfeed.com, in which she was given a person or object and asked to describe it by writing down the first thing that came to her mind.

In the results posted on the website on Tuesday (22Apr14), she was given the word "Putin" and she wrote down "gay", alluding to the leader's controversial stance on homosexuals and anti-gay legislation in Russia.

The singer was then presented with the word "kale", and she also wrote down "gay' in response.

However, critics stormed the site with negative comments, calling Madonna out for using the term as a pejorative.

One user wrote, "Saying kale is 'gay' is meant to convey that she doesn't like it, so it is an insult. I am SO TIRED of people using 'gay' in a negative context."

Another comment read, "I am surprised she is using the word 'gay' as an insult. I thought she was more sensitive than that", while a post from the owners of beauty website TheGloss.com reads, "Hey Madonna? 2008 called and it wants its gay slurs back."

Madonna has yet to respond to the controversy.