Madonna stunned fans with a blockbuster return to the MTV Video Music Awards stage on Sunday, 23 years after her steamy kiss with Britney Spears became a defining pop culture moment.
The 68-year-old Queen of Pop, who led all artists with 11 nominations, showcased her toned physique in a Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello look. However, viewers soon criticised what they described as an “utterly unfocused” performance.
Madonna stepped out in a black satin trench coat, red leotard and knee-high boots to perform her hit Bring Your Love with 27-year-old collaborator Sabrina Carpenter.
The pop icon appeared draped in latex during a steamy visual accompanied by the declaration, “It’s mother!” Dancers then contorted themselves on stage as lasers shot from their crotches.
Opening the performance seated atop a piano played by Carpenter, Madonna spread her legs and confidently launched into the anthem.
She later removed the coat to reveal the leotard before dancers carried her across the stage to a platform, where a choir joined in for Bring Your Love.
Madonna made a dramatic return to the MTV Video Music Awards stage on Sunday, 23 years after her famous kiss with Britney Spears
The 68-year-old Queen of Pop displayed her toned figure in a revealing Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello ensemble, though fans soon called the performance “unfocused”
Dancers bundled the star onto a moving platform, while viewers said she appeared to be “out of breath” during the performance
Madonna writhed as she was carried through the crowd ahead of Charli XCX’s entrance.
She then joined Charli for a high-octane performance of the Danceteria Afterhours remix. Television viewers were already frustrated, however, after the ceremony was delayed by an overrunning football game.
The raunchy sequence also featured a surprise cameo from a scantily clad Sombr beside a toilet cubicle, before a muscular dancer lifted Madonna into the air.
Despite the spectacle, fans quickly took to social media to accuse Madonna of lip-syncing and express concern after she appeared to be out of breath on stage.
One viewer wrote, “MTV and CBS really fumbled Madonna tonight. The delay was bad enough, but those horrible camera angles during her performance? Come on. She deserved so much better.”
Another posted, “I wish I could’ve seen Madonna in her prime! Mama is tired and out of breath on this MTV #VMAs stage. And yes, I know she’s almost 70, so I’m not expecting 1985 Madonna, but whew!”
The fan added, “I’ll still give her credit where it’s due: she released one of the best albums of the year.”
Other viewers were less impressed, with one bluntly writing, “I’m going to say something controversial. Madonna, this is boring.”
Another criticised the set as “utterly unfocused” and “a damn mess.”
Madonna dazzled in a black satin trench coat, hot pants and knee-high boots while performing Bring Your Love with 27-year-old collaborator Sabrina Carpenter
She bent down on all fours as dancers carried her through the crowd
The star was joined in a bizarre leather urinal scene by Debi Mazar
Seth Rogen also joined the hitmaker, while clad in a leather ensemble
Madge was joined by Julia Garner, whose name has been floated to play the hitmaker for years in a biopic
MUST READ: Four Killed, Four Wounded in Shooting Near Bahamas Capital
Madonna later joined British bombshell Charli XCX for a high octane rendition of Danceteria – but fans watching on TV were left furious as the ceremony was delayed due to an overrunning football game
Fans quickly called out the pop icon for her performance
‘Madonna doesn’t know how to hang it up. This is one of the weirdest and most cringe things I’ve ever seen. Why are the MTV Music Awards on CBS after football?’
Others praised the star for her ‘iconic’ performance, which also included cameos from Debi Mazar and Seth Rogen.
One fan wrote, ‘She’s 68, bravo to her for still being able to get up in stage and move it the way she did.’
Madonna and Carpenter later won best collaboration, beating out Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T and Malice for Chains & Whips as well as Shakira and Burna Boy for Dai Dai, Teyana Taylor and Lucky Daye’s Hard Part, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson’s Stateside and French Montana and Max B’s Ever Since U Left Me.
This marked Madonna’s first VMAs win since 1999.
Madonna and Swift, 36, will be vying against each other for the evening’s top honor, video of the year, with Swift up for The Fate of Ophelia and Madonna for Confessions II (The Film).
During 2003’s MTV VMAs, Madonna had a prolonged kiss with Spears during their opening performance for the ceremony.
Spears opened the show by singing Madonna’s Like a Virgin, emerging out of a wedding cake while dressed as a bride, as Madonna did in her 1984 VMAs performance.
Other fans praised the star for the epic
Madonna and Carpenter later won best collaboration for Bring Your Love
Madonna famously performed at the first-ever VMAs in 1984, bursting from a gigantic wedding cake while dressed in a bridal gown for a rendition of Like a Virgin
During 2003’s MTV VMAs, Madonna had a prolonged kiss with Spears during their opening performance for the ceremony
Madonna’s VMAs coup comes after she earned a burst of critical acclaim and fan adoration for her latest album Confessions II, which was released July 3 and serves as a sequel to her 2005 smash hit Confessions on a Dance Floor
Soon after that, Aguilera joined Spears onstage for the song before Madonna appeared and launched into her single Hollywood. During the performance, Madonna leaned over and kissed Spears, before locking lips with Aguilera
During the broadcast only the image of Spears and Madonna was aired, followed by a reaction shot of Spears’ former flame Justin Timberlake.
The sapphic moment has gone on to be one of the most memorable in the history of the MTV Video Music Awards.
After their public make out session, Spears and Madonna went on to collaborate on the hit single Me Against The Music.
Madonna’s VMAs coup comes after she earned a burst of critical acclaim and fan adoration for her latest album Confessions II, which was released July 3 and serves as a sequel to her 2005 smash hit Confessions on a Dance Floor.
Madonna’s Confessions II (The Film) is also up for dance video of the year, against such competition as Aperture by Harry Styles, Runway by Lady Gaga and Doechii and New Religion by Bebe Rexha and Faithless.
The other nominees in that category are Dance… by Slayyyter, Stateside by PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson and Nobody’s Girl by Tate McRae.
