Madonna cancels tour dates due to 'overwhelming pain'

Madonna has called off three tour dates in Boston after suffering from what she called "overwhelming pain," according to a post she made on Instagram.

The 61-year-old singer explained that the shows have been cancelled in accordance with "doctor's orders."

"Please forgive this unexpected turn of events," she wrote. "Doing my show every night brings me so much joy and to cancel is a kind of punishment for me but the pain I’m in right now is overwhelming and I must rest and follow doctors orders so I can come back stronger and better and continue the Madame X journey with all of you."

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Please forgive this unexpected turn of events. Doing my show every night brings me so much joy and to cancel is a kind of punishment for me but the pain I’m in right now is overwhelming and I must rest and follow doctors orders so i can come back stronger and better and continue the Madame ❌ journey with all of you. #madamextheatre

A post shared by Madonna (@madonna) on Nov 27, 2019 at 12:28pm PST

The Boston shows, which were scheduled to be held at the Boch Center Wang Theatre, will not be rescheduled, with promoter Live Nation citing "tight scheduling." Live Nation is offering refunds to those who bought tickets for the cancelled performances.

Following a recent show in Los Angeles, Madonna mentioned she was taking her "usual ice bath for multiple injuries." Last month the singer postponed a New York concert due to a knee injury.

The tour had already attracted controversy as a result of its late starts. Madonna dismissed complaints with the line “The Queen is never late.”

Madame X has been described as an ambitious performance piece, themed around freedom. The show has been hailed by critics, though some have complained about a lack of hit songs being performed. The setlist does include “American Life," "Like A Prayer," "Human Nature," "Frozen" and, of course, "Vogue."

One fan, Nate Hollander, has taken a case about the starting time of the shows. He had spend in excess of $1,000 on three tickets for the Miami Beach performance. However, after the tickets were purchased, the start time for the gig was changed from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m., with the show not beginning until 1 a.m. He is suing for breach of contract and negligent misrepresentation. In addition, the Chicago show, which was advertised for 8:30 p.m., didn’t start until 11.

There were late arrivals during Madonn's Rebel Heart Tour as well, which at the time were explained as “technical difficulties.”

Read the Hot Press review of Madonna's latest album, Madame X, here.