Pop icon Madonna stirred controversy during her performance at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles on Thursday when she publicly questioned a seated audience member, only to realise later that he was in a wheelchair.
In a moment captured on video and shared widely on social media, Madonna shouted from the stage, “What are you doing sitting down over there?” before approaching the edge and realising the concertgoer’s situation. She swiftly corrected herself, saying, “Oh, OK. Politically incorrect, sorry about that. I’m glad you’re here.”
Madonna questions fan for sitting down during her show then finds out they’re on a wheelchair:
“Oh okay, politically incorrect, sorry about that. I’m glad you’re here.” pic.twitter.com/oezHxfjrFn
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) March 9, 2024
The incident, viewed over 2.4 million times on TikTok, sparked a wave of criticism online. TikTok users expressed disappointment, with one commenting, “What’s her issue?” accompanied by multiple crying emojis.
Others accused Madonna of exhibiting ableist behaviour. One user wrote, “Lots of people need to sit down who don’t use wheelchairs, too. This is honestly just gross, ableist behaviour. Appreciate that the person purchased a ticket and came to see you!”
Others questioned whether the act of sitting or standing at a concert should be cause for concern. “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???” one user argued on X.
Leave a Reply