Celebrities are made by the love their fans shower on them. Fans often go out of their way to show love for celebrities that they assume are larger than life. But stars too, after all, are human beings. A recent example of a quite human error made by a celebrity is Madonna.
Also popularly known as Madge, Madonna recently called out a wheelchair-using fan at one of her concerts last month, and then immediately apologized after she realized her mistake. Though social media was abuzz with criticism, the fan herself has come out to speak in the pop sensation’s support.
“She Had No Idea I Was Paralyzed”: Madonna’s Fan Graciously Accepts Her Apology
In a gracious response to Madonna’s honest mistake, Vanessa Gorman — the wheel-chair bound fan — said she understands why the star may have made the mistake. “Some people are in wheelchairs and can stand — she had no idea I was paralyzed,” Gorman said in an interview with TMZ.
Gorman also revealed that she has been paralyzed since she got injured in a motor vehicle accident in 1999. Interestingly, Gorman admitted that she was also surprised that Madonna initially failed to notice her bright pink wheelchair during the interaction.
However, she lauded the singer for apologizing both on the microphone and in person after the incident. Gorman said she was grateful for the apology and went on to enjoy the remaining concert, which took place at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada, last month.
Representatives for Madonna have yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the incident.
In case you missed it: Madonna Gets Sued By Two New York Fans. Here’s Why
Madonna’s “Ableist” Behavior Goes Viral On Social Media
The incident gained attention a video of the incident went viral on social media. In the video, Madonna asks, “What are you doing sitting down over there?” She then walks toward a corner of the stage and gets closer to the crowd.
“Oh, okay. Politically incorrect. Sorry about that. I’m glad you’re here,” she says, as she realizes that Gorman is seated on a wheelchair. While some onlookers criticized Madonna for the incident, accusing her of ableist behavior, others came to her defense.
Madonna is currently on her retrospective Celebration Tour in the United States, which started last year in Europe. The tour is set to conclude next month in Mexico City. Its launch was initially delayed due to the singer’s hospitalization for a “serious bacterial infection.”
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