Madonna's alleged on-and off-stage struggles and strange behavior left those around her 'concerned' for her well-being.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleQueen of pop Madonna is back in the news after turning heads at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs). She was in the spotlight as one of the opening ceremony acts and for racking up the most nominations. During her VMAs performance, the Material Girl singer seemed to struggle. Afterward, insiders said Madonna seemed "out of it" and acted strangely backstage, which made her team and others "worried."
Madonna took the stage at the 2026 VMAs for a high-octane act with Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX. At one point during the act, the 68-year-old had to be lifted by her backup dancers and dragged to the stage. At hag time, the dancers appeared to toss her onstage like a ragdoll, which sparked debate online. Even when they lifted and dragged Madonna, she seemed to struggle and show discomfort, and many linked the behavior to her age.
As the video went viral, fans wondered whether Madonna's body could still keep up with the demands of such performances. They also seemed confused about why she was thrown onstage that way and asked, "Why'd they toss her onto the stage like that??" Another social media user stated, "They plopped her on the piano like a sack of groceries."
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What viewers saw of Madonna's worrisome behavior might be just the tip of the iceberg. Insiders claimed she showed even weirder mannerisms backstage. A source close to the singer told RadarOnline that she "seemed out of it", and at times forgot where she was or what she was supposed to do. According to celebrity journalist Rob Shuter and the insider, Madonna "worried" those around her. The insider's exact words were:
"She seemed out of it- confused, unsure, and at moments like she didn't quite know where she was. This wasn't Madonna being difficult or eccentric. People were worried."
The source added that Madonna appeared "flushed and fuzzy." The singer was allegedly "wobbling back and forth to her seat." Those present, including her long-time team, were reportedly baffled by her unusual behavior. As per the insider, they have "never seen her like this." The insider added that something "seemed wrong" with Madonna and that her eccentricities were different this time. In their words:
"Madonna can be demanding, angry, and unpredictable- but this felt different. Something seemed wrong. People who care about her are concerned."
Because of Madonna's condition, her team reportedly kept her away from others behind the scenes and disguised it as heightened security measures. According to the source, the singer's team was "protecting" her in that way.
The source shared that the schedule changes at the VMAs triggered Madonna's apparent strange behavior. People who witnessed her backstage speculated that the show's delay "completely threw her." The singer was reportedly ready to get on stage at 7:30 p.m., but then a sudden change of plans pushed her performance back, leaving her allegedly "furious." That was reported as the beginning of Madonna's eccentricities. In the insider's words:
"She was ready and then suddenly furious. After that, everything seemed to unravel."
Regardless of Madonna's alleged difficulties during her performance, the VMAs night was extremely special for her. She was honored with seven Moon Person trophies, including Artist of the Year, Best Dance, Best Film, Best Album, Best Longform Video, Best Cinematography, and Best Choreography. It once again solidified her position as the queen of pop.
What are your thoughts on Madonna's alleged on-and off-stage struggles and strange behavior that have left the people around her worried? Let us know.
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