Madonna’s behaviour during the Australian leg of her Rebel Heart tour has been making headlines over the last few weeks, but it was her most recent antics that have left fans outraged and disappointed.
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During her performance in Brisbane, Australia, Madonna invited a teenage fan named Josephine Georgiou onstage with her. Madonna then began speaking to the teen in a provocative way, as she announced to the crowd, “She’s the kind of girl you just want to slap on the ass — and pull.” She then tugged at the teen’s corset top, accidentally exposing her breast before inviting the young fan to grab her crotch as retribution.
While touching like this is inappropriate for Madonna to have done to anyone, it’s compounded by the fact that Georgiou is only 17 years old. And Madonna made the situation much worse with her flippant reaction to what she had done, simply laughing it off and joking about sexual harassment.
“Sorry… sexual harassment. You can do the same to me. Good luck,” she declared while giving Georgiou a hug.
Madonna, a victim of sexual assault herself, should have known better than to make such insensitive remarks. What sort of message does this send out to teens? With so much stigma and shame already surrounding sexual harassment and sexual assault, does a response like this not propel this issue back into the darkness?
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As for the teen in question, she has openly defended Madonna’s actions, but that doesn’t mean that what she did should be excused.
Georgiou told Daily Mail Australia that she doesn’t think the incident was that much of a “big deal,” adding, “There was no bad intentions, it was just love and fun up there.”
According to the publication, Georgiou also commented on the situation in an interview with Courier Mail. She said, “Only I get to decide if I’m humiliated or not — why would people assume I am humiliated by my own breast, nipple or body?
“I didn’t realise my boob was such a big deal — it was nothing to me.”
Fans have taken to Twitter to share their thoughts, and many do not agree with Madonna’s actions.
It's good that the girl whose breast Madonna exposed was ok with it all.. But if she'd done that to me, I'd have sued her for all she's got.
— Else (@iamelse) March 18, 2016
madonna, i have so much respect for you but exposing 17 year old girl breast infront of the public is not acceptable.
— r. (@ohheyitsrai) March 18, 2016
I may be a fan of Madonna but Madonna, why?You should have asked for her consent first, esp.that she's still a minor https://t.co/xhregJFttK
— therese ty (@therstherese) March 18, 2016
https://twitter.com/yvonnecal/status/710853296802508803
https://twitter.com/__MeganMartinnx/status/710778989632212994
It’s no secret that Madonna is going through a tough time at the moment as she battles for custody of her 15-year-old son, Rocco. Emotions are obviously running high, and her personal turmoil may be affecting her performances — she has been accused of being drunk onstage and having a mini meltdown.
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However, Madonna has denied these allegations, stating that her actions were all part of “acting and playing a character.” Regardless of what character she was playing and how her behaviour was accidental, her onstage response to what she did was careless and insensitive.
What do you think of Madonna’s actions? Do you think she was grossly out of line? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
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