Madonna faces backlash after accidentally asking fan in wheelchair to 'stand up' at concert

Madonna accidentally called out a fan in a wheelchair for sitting during her show.

Madonna, the Queen of Pop, found herself in the midst of controversy as she accidentally called out a fan in a wheelchair for sitting during her show in a cringe-worthy moment during her recent performance at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California.

"What are you doing sitting down over there? What are you getting sitting down?" Madonna questioned the concert-goer from the stage, before moving closer to investigate.

Realising her mistake, the pop icon swiftly apologised, acknowledging the error in her remarks. "Oh, okay. Politically incorrect. Sorry about that," she expressed upon noticing the individual's wheelchair. "I’m glad you are here."

Fan-captured footage of the incident swiftly spread across social media platforms, sparking a wave of criticism from online observers.

"Does it matter if they’re sitting or standing? They paid for the ticket and took the time to be there? Isn’t that enough???" questioned one user on X (formerly Twitter), accompanied by a shrugging emoji.

"Lots of people need to sit down who don’t use wheelchairs, too. This is honestly just gross, ableist behavior," another X user added. "Appreciate that the person purchased a ticket and came to see you!"

Madonna's current tour, dubbed the Celebration Tour, which kicked off with a five-night residency at the Kia Forum on March 4, offers fans a comprehensive journey through her illustrious career, delving into her hits, personal struggles, cultural impact, and enduring influence.

During the opening night of her Los Angeles shows, the 65-year-old superstar disclosed her battle with a severe bacterial infection in June 2023, an ordeal that led to her hospitalization and the postponement of her tour.

"This summer I had a surprise," Madonna revealed to the audience, clutching a cowboy hat in one hand and a guitar in the other. "It’s called a near-death experience."