Madonna appears drunk on stage as legal battle takes its toll

Madonna turned up to her show in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday night (10Mar16) four hours late and dressed as a clown.

The 57-year-old singer has been embroiled in a custody battle with ex-husband Guy Ritchie over their 15-year-old son Rocco for the past few months, and it seems the complicated case could be taking its toll on the superstar.

As she arrived for her performance at the Forum in the city, fans were left bemused by her appearance, with Madonna sporting a pink wig, striped tights and frilly top, along with a top hat and clown nose.

Madonna fans took to Twitter to say she 'appeared drunk' during emotional dedication to estranged son Rocco.

She told the crowd in Melbourne: “One thing I’m going to do here tonight that I've never done before when singing is drink.”

Begining her performance four hours late she was seen knocking back cocktails in front of a bemused audience.

Madonna said she wasn’t drunk whilst having dancers deliver her a drink on stage.

Fans tweeted: 'So far, Madonna is drunk and constantly missing cues.' Another, Karla Corpuz, said 'Madonna is drunk as f', while others suggested she was 's***-faced'.

At one stage breaking down in tears, the two-hour gig also offered up jokes and comedy moments.

She said: “Everybody knows the saga of me and my son Rocco. It’s not a fun story to tell or think about.”

At one point riding around the stage on a baby tricycle the crowd was left confused.



Madonna setlist The Forum Melbourne March 10, 2016

Send In The Clowns (Stephen Sondheim cover)
Drowned World/Substitute For Love (from Ray of Light, 1998)
X-Static Process (from American Life, 2003)
Between The Bars (Elliott Smith cover)
Nobody’s Perfect (from Music, 2000)
Easy Ride (from American Life, 2003)
Intervention (from American Life, 2003)
I’m So Stupid (from American Life, 2003)
Paradise (Not For Me) (from Music, 2000)
Joan Of Arc (from Rebel Heart, 2003)
Don’t Tell Me (from Music, 2000)
Mer Girl (from Ray of Light, 1998)
Borderline (from Madonna, 1983)
Take A Bow (from Bedtime Stories, 1994)

Holiday (from Madonna, 1983)

The singer has not seen Rocco since he refused to return to his mother in New York following a stay with his London-based father in December (15).

Madonna has pursued legal action in both the U.K. and the Big Apple, where earlier this month (Mar16), Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Deborah Kaplan urged the two sides to find an amicable solution for the sake of Rocco. That case was adjourned until 1 June (16), while Justice Alistair MacDonald concurred with Kaplan's advice during a preliminary London hearing last week (03Mar16).