Singer Madonna fell off the steps next to the stage while performing her song "Living for Love" at the Brit Awards in London. The 56-year-old singer picked herself up and continued her performance.
The fall at Wednesday's music awards show was apparently caused by a move that went wrong: A dancer tugged at Madonna's cape, which failed to detach, and the singer fell down a flight of steps. Almost immediately, she rose and continued singing.
The fall lit up Twitter, as such things do these days, with the hashtags #shefellover and #fallenmadonna both trending. The reaction, as you might expect, was mixed. Many found the fall funny:
I've learnt the lyrics to Madonnas new song because I have rewatched the video of her falling over like 100 times #shefellover
— amelialoveday πΏπͺπ¦ (@amelialoveday_) February 25, 2015
Seeing Madonna falling over is making me crack up πππππ #shefellover
— max (@maxmilesi24) February 26, 2015
The negative reaction spawned much conversation on Twitter about ageism and at least one essay defending the singer.
"No wonder Madonna took her Brit awards fall in her stride β she deals with much worse just for being a 56-year-old woman," columnist Bidisha wrote in The Guardian.
But there were messages of support, too:
The interesting thing is not Madonna's fall but her recovery. Remarkable professionalism.
— Danny Cohen (@DannyCohen) February 26, 2015
Madonna is only 56, is in the prime of her life, has power, talent, experience and wisdom,in addition to her natural intelligence and rigour
— a Serafina (@lipeberger) February 26, 2015
Gotta give it to her for carrying on after that fall. And she is 56! #shefellover #BRITAwards #Survivor pic.twitter.com/24yhlyA3m4
— Arbab Khan (@TheArbabShow) February 26, 2015
Later, on Instagram, Madonna said:
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