Injured Madonna has axed the first gig of her UK tour – amid claims she has struggled to sell tickets.
The pop superstar, whose Madame X tour has been marred by injury, cancelled Monday night’s show at the London Palladium – the first of 15 at the 2,200-seat venue.
Tickets ranged from £69 to £500 – but cost more than £1,000 for a seat with VIP entry.
A source said: “Madonna is a legend but she has failed to sell out the British leg of her tour. It’s a bit of a disappointment but most people can’t afford to pay for such extortionate tickets. It’s daylight robbery.”
Fans who did buy tickets were yesterday given refunds. The cancellation comes after the Express Yourself star axed a date in Portugal’s capital Lisbon last week for health reasons.
Madonna, 61, said: “I am deeply sorry I have to cancel my concert. Under doctors’ guidance I have been told to rest for a few days.
"As you all know I have injuries that have plagued me since the beginning of the tour but I must always listen to my body and put my health first.
The last thing I want to do is disappoint my fans or compromise the integrity of my show. So I will keep going until I cannot.”
The singer’s Wednesday show will still take place as scheduled. Last November, Madonna told fans in San Francisco she had a torn ligament and bad knee.
Last week she was seen with a cane, and a video seemingly showed her having a blood transfusion.
