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 down over there? What are you getting sitting down?’ she asked as she paused the concert.
As she walked to the edge of the stage and approached the crowd, Madonna then realized that the fan was in a wheelchair. ‘Oh, OK. Politically incorrect. Sorry about that,’ she said afterward. ‘I’m glad you are here.’
The person, a woman named Vanessa Gorman, spoke with TMZ and said she is not offended by the star’s blunder.
It was originally reported that the concert took place in Los Angeles, but the news outlet has now revealed that it actually occurred 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 down over there? What are you getting 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 ‘unfazed’ by the callout, to which she responded by screaming how much she loves the singer.
Vanessa is a paraplegic from a 1999 car accident in 1999.
She explained that she doesn’t think Madonna had any ill-intent, calling it a mistake and expressed appreciation for the hitmaker having immediately apologized into her microphone so that everyone could 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 was about to introduce the next song before calling out the wheelchair user.
Madonna then quickly apologized and walked back to the center of the stage to resume her performance.
Social media users quickly criticized her, saying her question was ‘insulting’ and 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 it’s none of her business if someone chooses to sit down during the show
One user Reddit wrote, ‘Even if that person wasn’t in a wheelchair, maybe just having bad knees or whatever, how tf is that anybody’s business?’
Another person chimed in, saying, ‘Girl, bye. People are paying 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,’ a person wrote.
Concertgoers have shared their accounts of sustaining injuries prior to attending a concert.
One TikTok user wrote, ‘I was injured just before a concert last year and the guitarist kept gesturing to me, making faces, and flipped me off for sitting. Singer also complained… I had wanted to see him for years.’
Another user said, I went to a concert a couple of months after going through surgery and chemo and couldn’t stand the whole time. I would’ve been mortified to be called out like this.’