The BRIT Awards took a disastrous turn for Madonna back in 2015, and the Queen of Pop admitted her performance of Living for Love became a “horrible nightmare” on live TV
Madonna tumbles down stairs during her BRIT Awards finale to steal the show
The BRIT Awards turned into a horror story for Madonna back in 2015. The Queen of Pop was singing her song Living for Love when things descended into chaos – and it was all because of her cape.
There have been tons of awkward moments and mishaps at the BRITs over the years. The iconic music awards ceremony takes place tonight (February 28) at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, with comedian Jack Whitehall back hosting for a sixth time.
The ceremony will air on ITV1, ITVX and STV (in Scotland) from 8.15pm. Olivia Dean and Lola Young are the leading moninees, with five nods each, followed by Sam Fender with four nominations.
Madonna’s BRIT Awards mishap in 2015 is one of the most iconic moments in the award show’s history(Image: Getty Images)
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Let’s face it though, you may tune in for the awards show – but often it’s the beef and the blunders that gets everyone talking. And one of the biggest mishaps in BRITs history has to be Madonna’s infamous cape scandal, which if anything has only served to cement her legendary status.
She was the closing act of the night on February 25, 2015, making her triumphant return to the BRITs after two decades. Millions were watching on live television when she appeared on the stage in a giant black cape designed by Giorgio Armani.
The pop legend tumbled off of the stage and down the stairs(Image: Redferns via Getty Images)
The singer was joined by dancers dressed as horned minotaurs – but things went off script. The plan was for Madonna to remove her sweeping cape on the staircase and for it to be tucked away by the dancers.
However, the dancers were unable to get it off of the singer as the tie fastening around her neck wouldn’t move. So when the dancers pulled it, they ended up sending Madonna herself flying backwards down the stairs in her heels.
The singer suffered whiplash during the accident(Image: Redferns via Getty Images)
It was shocking and surreal that some members of the audience didn’t even gasp and seemingly assumed it was all part of the act. It didn’t help matters that Madonna fell during the lyrics: “I let down my guard, I fell into your arms,” and managed to get back on her feet in time to sing: “Now that it’s over, I’m going to carry on”.
Fans online were absolutely gobsmacked by the moment when it was unfolding, but Madona’s slip-up actually gained her a ton of credit. The show must go on as they say…
Ever the professional, the Like A Virgin hitmaker managed to get back up onto her feet and carry on with the performance. She remained in high spirits after the incident, writing on Instagram the next day: “Armani hooked me up! Nothing can stop me and love really lifted me up! Thanks for your good wishes! I’m fine.”
Madonna’s BRIT Awards mishap in 2015 is one of the most iconic moments in the award show’s history(Image: Getty Images)
She explained what happened on The Jonathan Ross Show just a few days later. Madonna said: “Everybody was worried that my cape was going to slide off because it’s quite heavy, so they tied it really tight around my neck.
“So here I am marching in like a queen, and I got to the top of the stairs and I pulled my silky string, and it would not come undone. And my two lovely Japanese dancers basically strangled me off the stage. I had a choice: I could either be strangled or fall with the cape, and I fell.”
She also revealed she suffered whiplash during the nasty accident. “It was a horrible nightmare,” she said. “But I know how to fall. I have core strength.”
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