Madonna cancels Australian tour

Australian music fans are said to be somewhat disappointed after it was revealed pop star Madonna would be scrapping plans to tour the country next year only five months after announcing she would perform in Australia for the first time in two decades.

Promoter Live Nation was informed of the cancellation of the Australian leg of the MDNA tour by Madonna’s manager Guy Oseary overnight, according to media reports.

Rumours have been rife for the past fortnight the singer would be cancelling her visit to Australia after Live Nation delayed putting an announcement expected in early July for local dates and tickets.

Earlier this year, both Oseary and Live Nation were adamant Madonna would visit Australia.

“Madonna really needs to go to Australia,” Oseary said.

“We are long overdue for a trip Down Under and apologise for that. It will happen.”

The original announcement came on the back of an extravagant half-time show Madonna put on at this year’s NFL Superbowl in February.

Reasons for the cancellation of the tour remain unspecified but rival promoters have suggested the show was unviable due to high ticket costs and a crowded summer tour market.

The 54-year-old kicked off her current tour in Tel Aviv, Israel in late May and has already courted controversy overseas.

She bared a breast while performing in Istanbul before screening a backing video in Paris which involved a Nazi swastika superimposed upon the face of Marine Le Pen, leader of French far-right party the National Front.  

Madonna last performed in Australia in 1993 when she held a show at Melbourne’s MCG as part of her Girlie Show tour.