Madonna, 68, Slammed by Fans for ‘Utterly Unfocused’ VMAs Comeback

Madonna stunned fans with a high-profile return to the MTV Video Music Awards stage on Sunday, 23 years after her steamy kiss with Britney Spears became one of pop culture’s most memorable moments.

The 68-year-old Queen of Pop, who led this year’s nominations with 11 nods, showcased her toned figure in a Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello look. However, viewers were quick to criticize what they described as an “utterly unfocused” performance.

Madonna took to the stage in a black satin trench coat, red leotard and knee-high boots. She performed her hit “Bring Your Love” alongside 27-year-old collaborator Sabrina Carpenter.

The pop icon also appeared draped in latex during a steamy visual sequence featuring the declaration: “It’s mother!”

She opened the performance seated atop a piano played by Carpenter, legs spread wide, before confidently belting out the anthem.

Madonna later removed the trench coat to reveal her leotard, then was carried across the stage onto a platform as a choir joined in for “Bring Your Love.”

She writhed and moved through the crowd before making way for Charli XCX’s entrance.

Madonna then joined Charli for a high-octane performance of “Danceteria.” However, viewers watching at home were already frustrated after the ceremony was delayed by an overrun football game.

The raunchy segment included a surprise appearance from scantily clad Sombr beside a toilet cubicle, before a muscular dancer lifted Madonna into the air.

Despite the spectacle, fans flooded social media with accusations that Madonna was lip-syncing. Others expressed concern after she appeared to be struggling for breath onstage.

One fan wrote, “MTV & CBS really fumbled Madonna tonight. The delay was bad enough, but those HORRIBLE camera angles during her performance? Come on. She deserved so much better.”

Another viewer posted, “I wish I could’ve seen Madonna in her prime! Mama is TIRED and out of breath on this MTV #VMAs stage. And yes, I know she’s almost 70, so I’m not expecting 1985 Madonna, but whew!

“I’ll still give her credit where it’s due: she released one of the best albums of the year.”

Others were less complimentary, with one person writing, “Ima say something controversial. Madonna this is boring.”

Another added, “madonna performance… wow… utterly unfocused and just a got damn MESS!!!!!!!”

‘Madonna doesn’t know how to hang it up. This is one of the weirdest and most cringe things I’ve ever seen. Why are the MTV Music Awards on CBS after football?’

Others praised the star for her ‘iconic’ performance, which also included cameos from Debi Mazar and Seth Rogen. 

One fan wrote, ‘She’s 68, bravo to her for still being able to get up in stage and move it the way she did.’ 

Madonna and Carpenter later won best collaboration, beating out Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T and Malice for Chains & Whips as well as Shakira and Burna Boy for Dai Dai, Teyana Taylor and Lucky Daye’s Hard Part, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson’s Stateside and French Montana and Max B’s Ever Since U Left Me.   

Madonna and Swift, 36, will be vying against each other for the evening’s top honor, video of the year, with Swift up for The Fate of Ophelia and Madonna for Confessions II (The Film).

During 2003’s MTV VMAs, Madonna had a prolonged kiss with Spears during their opening performance for the ceremony.

Spears opened the show by singing Madonna’s Like a Virgin, emerging out of a wedding cake while dressed as a bride, as Madonna did in her 1984 VMAs performance.

Soon after that, Aguilera joined Spears onstage for the song before Madonna appeared and launched into her single Hollywood. During the performance, Madonna leaned over and kissed Spears, before locking lips with Aguilera

During the broadcast only the image of Spears and Madonna was aired, followed by a reaction shot of Spears’ former flame Justin Timberlake.

The sapphic moment has gone on to be one of the most memorable in the history of the MTV Video Music Awards.

After their public make out session, Spears and Madonna went on to collaborate on the hit single Me Against The Music.

Madonna’s VMAs coup comes after she earned a burst of critical acclaim and fan adoration for her latest album Confessions II, which was released July 3 and serves as a sequel to her 2005 smash hit Confessions on a Dance Floor.

Madonna’s Confessions II (The Film) is up for dance video of the year, against such competition as  Aperture by Harry Styles, Runway by Lady Gaga and Doechii and New Religion by Bebe Rexha and Faithless.

The other nominees in that category are Dance… by Slayyyter, Stateside by PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson and Nobody’s Girl by Tate McRae.

Best pop video has emerged as a contest between Hate That I Made You Love Me, The Fate of Ophelia and Nobody’s Girl, as well as Dream by the Blackpink breakout Lisa, SS26 by Charli XCX, Drop Dead by Olivia Rodrigo and House Tour by Carpenter