Pop music legend Madonna is facing a wave of criticism following an incident at a recent concert where she appeared to urge a fan in a wheelchair to stand up.
Despite her subsequent recognition of the faux pas as "politically incorrect," social media users have accused the singer of ableist behavior.
The 65-year-old singer, known for hits such as "Material Girl" and "Like a Virgin," sparked controversy during a performance at the Kia Forum as part of her Celebration Tour. A video from the event, which has since gone viral, shows Madonna encouraging her audience to join her in the concert experience.
In the video, Madonna singles out a seated fan, asking, "What are you doing sitting down over there?" Upon realizing the fan is in a wheelchair, she quickly apologizes, saying, "Oh OK, politically incorrect, sorry about that." She then adds, "Im glad youre here," before appearing to laugh off the incident.
However, the incident did not sit well with many social media users. Public speaker and author Ola Ojewumi, who uses a wheelchair, took to X (formerly Twitter) to label Madonna as "ableist trash." Ojewumi contrasted Madonna's behavior with the kindness she experienced from rapper Lupe Fiasco at a previous concert, where he made her feel special by taking backstage photos and dedicating a song to her.
Another user, @gagasyuyi, expressed disbelief at Madonna's actions, writing, "Madonna was insane for telling a wheelchair user to stand up for her songs." Musician and disability advocate Lachi, who is blind, also criticized Madonna and urged her to make amends with the fan.
However, some fans defended the singer, arguing that she was unaware the fan was in a wheelchair. User @MCiccone94 wrote, "She couldnt see that the person was in a wheelchair, leave her alone." Another fan, @iamthelastlaw, suggested that everyone should be standing at a Madonna concert, regardless of their physical abilities.
Representatives for Madonna and her tour have yet to respond to requests for comment from The Times.
The incident occurred as Madonna continues her Celebration Tour, which began in Europe in the fall of 2023 following a delay due to a bacterial infection. The singer's stint at the Kia Forum, which included performances on March 4, 5, 7, and 9, concluded on Monday evening.
Times critic Mikael Wood commented on the tour, noting that it was "curiously short on joy." He added, "A pop concert is a theater of personality and craft, not one of plot or character development. But a narrative this messy needed more razzle-dazzle."
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