Madonna set tongues wagging with her first VMAs show-opener performance in 23 years
Chaos reigned supreme for Madonna at the VMAs last night.
Kicking off the show with her first VMAs performance in 23 years, Madge was always going to get tongues wagging. Yet, who would have expected her to get violently flung onto a platform, a reunion with a famous ex… and an awkward dig at Sabrina Carpenter to boot?
The Like A Prayer legend, 68, was also the big winner for the night, bagging a total of seven awards. She has now won 26 VMAs, putting her just behind Taylor Swift’s 32 and Beyonce’s 26.
Madonna’s risque performance setting a record
Madonna set a VMAs record with her risque performance last night, which was her fifth time opening the show. She had previously been tied with Rihanna, with both holding four show-openers.
She also became the oldest recipient of the Artist of the Year award.
Wearing a corsetted leather top, red hotpants and fishnet tights combined with over the knee boots, Madonna made an explosive return to the stage with Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, SOMBR and even Seth Rogan.
As ever, her outfit caused controversy – however, the Queen of Pop was also accused of lip-syncing. One fan commented: “Madonna completely missed her cue, that she forgot she was supposed to be lip-syncing.”
While another wrote: “This is incredible, spectacular and everything I asked for but I would just like to mention how messy it is from Madonna getting caught lipsyncing and Charli sounding a mess.”
Thrown on stage
Fans were also left concerned, however, when Madonna was seen struggling later on stage.
At one point, she was seen being dragged by her masked backing dancers holding cameras before they dropped her on stage.
Was this part of the performance or an accident? Fans will recall Madonna famously falling off the stage at the 2015 BRIT Awards, so it’s not out of the realms of possibility.
One fan questioned: “They all just throwing her around like a ragdoll.” While another wrote: “Why was Madonna struggling so much right here.”
Yet others were convinced it was part of the act, with one writing: “She was acting. Leave that lady alone.”
Eyebrows were also raised at the brace on Madonna’s knee as she accepted her Best Dance album award…
Sabrina Carpenter dig
In an awkward moment on stage that left Sabrina Carpenter trying not to wince, Madonna claimed that it took Sabrina’s team five days to respond to collab.
“When five days passed and I still didn’t get connected with Sabrina and I didn’t hear back from her about whether she wanted to do a song with me,” she told the audience. “Five days, I DM’ed her. Yep, this is a true story.
“She answered me back and I don’t know, within weeks we were in the studio together. It was fabulous.”
Sabrina then leaned into the mic and added: “My team replies, just so everybody knows. They do respond to people, but I respond faster. So direct line to me is always the best way to get in contact.”
Reunion with famous ex
Madonna’s ex-boyfriend Tony Ward made a surprise appearance during her show-opener last night. Delighted fans recognised him as he popped up in a bathroom sequence – 36 years after he famously appeared in a music video considered too sexually explicit by MTV, who refused to air it.
The pair dated between 1990 and 1991, with their relationship sparking what many considered Madonna’s most provocative music video, Justify My Love.
Despite their split, Tony did still work with Madonna and appeared in her 1992 photography book Sex.
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