The wheelchair-bound fan who was scolded by Madonna at a recent concert for not standing up said she is not upset about the incident.
The 65-year-old singer sparked controversy when she singled out someone in the audience during a stop on her Celebration tour.
‘What are you doing sitting over there? What do you gain by sitting down?’ she asked as she paused the concert.
As she walked to the edge of the stage and approached the audience, Madonna realized the fan was in a wheelchair. ‘Oh okay. Politically incorrect. Sorry about that, she said afterwards. “I’m glad you’re here.”
The person, a woman named Vanessa Gorman, spoke with TMZ and said she is not offended by the star’s blunder.
It was initially reported that the concert took place in Los Angeles, but the news outlet has now revealed that it actually took place at her Vancouver show last month.
The wheelchair-bound fan who was scolded by Madonna at a recent concert for not standing up said she is not upset about the incident
The 65-year-old singer sparked controversy when she singled out a person in the audience during a stop on her Celebration tour
‘What are you doing sitting over there? What do you gain by sitting down?’ she asked
“Some people are in wheelchairs and can stand — she had no idea I was paralyzed,” Gorman told TMZ.
The publication also stated that Vanessa was shocked that the pop star hadn’t initially noticed she was in a wheelchair due to its bright pink color.
She was reportedly ‘untouched’ by the message, to which she responded by screaming how much she loves the singer.
Vanessa is a paraplegic from a car accident in 1999.
She explained that she doesn’t think Madonna had any bad intentions, calling it a mistake and expressing appreciation that the hitmaker had immediately apologized into her microphone for all to hear.
The moment was captured and shared millions of times across various social media platforms, with users criticizing the celebrity for her comments.
In the viral video, Madonna urged fans to ‘take this ride’ with her as she introduced the next song, before shouting out the wheelchair user.
Madonna then quickly apologized and went back to the center of the stage to resume her performance.
Social media users quickly slammed her, saying her question was ‘insulting’ and that it’s none of her business if someone chooses to sit down during the show.
The moment was captured and shared millions of times across various social media platforms, with users criticizing the celebrity for her comments. Pictured: Madonna in Los Angeles on March 8
Social media said her question was ‘insulting’ and that it’s none of her business if someone chooses to sit down during the show
One Reddit user wrote: “Even if that person wasn’t in a wheelchair, maybe just had bad knees or whatever, how is that anyone’s business?”
Another person called in and said: ‘Girl, bye. People pay good money to see you, don’t disrespect them like that.’
‘At her age she should have known better than to do this. They probably paid good money for their seats too. So rude,’ one person wrote.
Concertgoers have shared their accounts of sustaining injuries before attending a concert.
One TikTok user wrote: ‘I got hurt right before a gig last year and the guitarist kept gesturing at me, making faces and turning me away to sit. Singer also complained… I had wanted to see him for years.’
Another user said, I was at a concert a few months after going through surgery and chemo and couldn’t stand the whole time. I would have been horrified to be called out like this.’
