The latest show on Madonna‘s world tour kicked off an hour and a half late on Sunday evening.
The legendary performer reportedly kept crowds waiting at the second Auckland show of her Rebel Heart world tour, after it was revealed earlier on Sunday that the pop goddess had all but conceded defeat in the battle for custody over her estranged 15-year-old son Rocco Ciccone-Ritche, with ex-husband Guy Ritchie.
The court battle has been raging since Rocco made the decision to live with his father late last year and refused to return to New York with Madonna. It had been made abundantly clear the toll that the proceedings had taken on the singer after she broke down on stage the evening prior. Through tears Madonna emotionally dedicated her song La Vie en Rose to Rocco, declaring “There is no lover stronger than a mother for her son”.
“If I talk about him too much, I’m going to cry. But I would love to dedicate this song to him. It’s a love song for a man, but I know he’ll need one, one day,” the singer added, through tears. TMZ published a video of Madonna’s song dedicated to her son, which is available to view, below.
On Sunday night fans in the audience took to social media while they were forced to wait, voicing their frustrations with the unexplained delay;
Get on with the show already @Madonna we’ve paid to see ya. What are you waiting for. An hour intermission are you serious! #RebelHeartTour
— WebScale Webster (@vcdxnz001) March 6, 2016
Where are you Madonna? — Missee4D (@eva_ford) March 6, 2016
I'm not a fan of people who turn up late. #waits #Madonna pic.twitter.com/ycycXwBeyp
— Dan News (@dannews) March 6, 2016
Maybe @Madonna can pay me 300 bucks and I'll turn up late too.
— Dan News (@dannews) March 6, 2016
Interesting admission from Madonna in Auckkand she 'won't make a cent from the tour here' as she is choosing to start & finish so late
— Peter Ford (@mrpford) March 6, 2016
When she eventually took to the stage around 10:30pm on Sunday, Madonna descended in a metal cage surrounded by various religious iconography. The queen of pop went on to hit all of her straps with a typically strong performance, boding well for the Australian leg of her tour which kicks off on Thursday with an exclusive show for Madonna’s Icon Fan Club at The Forum in Melbourne, before the first public show on Saturday at Rod Laver Arena.
Limited tickets are still available for some shows. See details below.
Rebel Heart Tour Dates
Saturday, 12th March 2016
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Tickets: Ticketek
Sunday, 13th March 2016
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Tickets: Ticketek
Wednesday, 16th March 2016
Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Tickets: Ticketek
Thursday, 17th March 2016
Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Tickets: Ticketek
Saturday, 19th March 2016
Allphones Arena, Sydney
Tickets: Ticketek
Sunday, 20th March 2016
Allphones Arena, Sydney
Tickets: Ticketek
