Madonna Clarifies 'Drunken Meltdown' Reports, Blaming 'Sexism' And 'Misogyny'

Madonna has set the record straight once and for all about the “drunken meltdown” various media outlets would have us believe she’s currently in the middle of.

Amid her current custody battle involving her 15-year-old son and ex-husband, Guy Ritchie, Madonna touched down in Australia last week and played what was, admittedly, a pretty bizarre show.

Dressed as a clown, Madonna entered the stage on a tricycle, attempted stand-up comedy and ditched the hits in favour of acoustic versions of album deep cuts, with ensuing reports in the press suggesting she was drunk on stage.

Following this, she kicked off the Australian leg of her ‘Rebel Heart’ tour, and reports once again, suggested that she was intoxicated during the show, swigging tequila from the bottle and behaving erratically.

Not exactly famous for her ability to cut loose and let go, Madonna has now had her say on Instagram, slamming claims that she’d been drinking in a lengthy statement.

Sharing one fan’s angry Facebook status defending her honour, the ‘Ghosttown’ singer wrote: “Too bad people don't know the art of acting and playing a character. I could never do any of my shows high or drunk.

“And yes, underlying all of this is sexism and [misogyny] which proves that not only do we not get equal pay but we are still treated like heretics if we step out of line and think outside the box!

“Sexism is alive and kicking but I am #LivingForLove.”

Another of her recent shows included a reference to her teenage son, Rocco Ritchie, who is now living with his father in London, rather than his brother, sister and mother in New York.

Performing in front of a montage of photos of her son, she gave an emotional rendition of her song ‘Intervention’, singing: “And I know that love will change us forever, and I know that love will keep us together.”

She previously discussed the custody battle during a show in the US, dedicating a cover of Edith Piaf’s ‘La Vie En Rose’ to her son, admitting that she didn’t feel comfortable discussing it as it made her cry.