Madonna fan in wheelchair responds to concert announcement

Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Live Nation

Madonna made headlines last week when a video clip of the Queen of Pop wrongly calling out a fan in a wheelchair for sitting down during her performance circulated online. The fan who caught Madonna’s attention has since spoken out about the much-talked-about moment.

“What are you doing sitting there? What do you get sitting down? Madonna is heard asking in the clip, singling out concertgoer Vanessa Gorman at one of her recent shows on her career-spanning Celebration Tour. The star then headed to the edge of the stage for a closer look.

When Madonna realized the woman was in a wheelchair, she changed her tune and said, “Oh, okay. Politically incorrect. I’m sorry.”

“I’m glad you’re here,” Madonna said, directing her comment toward Gorman, who was interviewed about the viral moment by TMZ.

As a fan, Gorman admitted she was dazzled to have been noticed, not offended, and said she knew it was a mistake. In fact, in a video taken from her point of view, Gorman can even be heard shouting, “I love you!” to Madonna during the interaction.

“Some people are in wheelchairs and can stand up. She had no idea she was paralyzed,” Gorman, who is paraplegic following a 1999 car accident, told TMZ on Friday (March 15).

He noted that he was glad that Madonna apologized immediately and that he could enjoy the rest of the show.

Billboard He recently attended the last of Madonna’s five-night The Celebration Tour at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California. Hear all about that experience on this week’s episode of the Pop Shop Podcast.