Arts & Entertainment
Madonna lashes out after London Palladium cuts off concert for going past curfew


Madonna is making news again for a disruption of her current “Madame X” tour, but it’s not because she cancelled another show.
Variety reports that the 61-year-old “Queen of Pop” has been venting her anger at the London Palladium after the venue cut short her concert for running over an 11 p.m. curfew on Wednesday night.
The singer was still performing when Palladium staff closed the stage curtain and switched off the sound when she went past the deadline, prompting an expletive-laced outburst from the “Vogue” hitmaker, who emerged from behind the curtain and continued the show despite the house lights being on and her microphone being off.
The pop icon later took to Instagram to further express her fury at the Palladium, accusing the venue of attempting to “censor” her “Madame X” performance in a post which included a video showing her coming through the curtains with her backup dancers and launching into the concert’s final song, “I Rise,” as the audience applauded and sang along.
The singer wrote, “…it was 5 minutes past our 11:00 curfew—-we had one more song to do and The Palladium decided to censor us by pulling.down the metal fire curtain that weighs 9 tons. Fortunately they stopped it half way and no one was hurt………….. Many Thanks to the entire Audience who did not move and never left us. ?????? Power to The People!! #Irise #ongod #madamextheatre #thelondonpalladium”
The video as posted on Madonna’s Instagram begins with a caption that says, “Everybody’s hurt. What is important, what drives you, torments you, is that you must find some way of using this to connect with everyone else alive. Artists are here to disturb the peace.”
On Thursday, a Palladium spokeswoman issued a statement disputing the controversial star’s claim that the metal fire curtain had been lowered, saying, “Contrary to a number of reports, at no point during last night’s performance did staff at The London Palladium pull down, or attempt to pull down, the Iron Fire Curtain.”
At a previous Palladium show last week, Madonna told the audience that she had been warned by the local Westminster council that an “iron curtain” would fall over the production if she went beyond the designated cutoff time.
According to The Daily Mail, the star trolled the venue again at her Palladium show on Thursday, the following night, by saying on stage, “You know there’s an iron curtain waiting for me. Some handcuffs? I hope someone will arrest me.”
Not all of Madonna’s fans agreed with her take on the incident. At least one fan at the Wednesday show blamed the singer, telling The Mail, “Classic Madge. All her own fault.” Her original Instagram post also included several comments from concert-goers scolding her for her tardiness, such as @jpstunnas, who wrote, “Bravo to the theater. This should of been done in the states. You need to learn to not be super tardy.”
The Wednesday concert had been scheduled to begin at 8:30pm, but the singer did not take the stage until approximately 30 minutes later, causing the performance to run past its scheduled ending time. Madonna has a long history of being late for performances, and is currently being sued by fans over the devaluation of show tickets due to her tardiness.
She has previously cancelled 10 of the 93 scheduled dates for her current tour due to injury.
Photos
PHOTOS: Helen Hayes Awards
Gay Men’s Chorus, local drag artists have featured performance at ceremony

The 41st Helen Hayes Awards were held at The Anthem on Monday, May 19. Felicia Curry and Mike Millan served as the hosts.
A performance featuring members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and local drag artists was held at the end of the first act of the program to celebrate WorldPride 2025.
The annual awards ceremony honors achievement in D.C.-area theater productions and is produced by Theatre Washington.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)



























2025 D.C. Trans Pride was held at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on Saturday, May 17. The day was filled with panel discussions, art, social events, speakers, a resource fair and the Engendered Spirit Awards. Awardees included Lyra McMillan, Pip Baitinger, Steph Niaupari and Hayden Gise. The keynote address was delivered by athlete and advocate Schuyler Bailar.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)











a&e features
Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
Washington Blade’s unique archives chronicle highs, lows of our movement

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of LGBTQ Pride in Washington, D.C., the Washington Blade team combed our archives and put together a glossy magazine showcasing five decades of celebrations in the city. Below is a sampling of images from the magazine but be sure to find a print copy starting this week.

The magazine is being distributed now and is complimentary. You can find copies at LGBTQ bars and restaurants across the city. Or visit the Blade booth at the Pride festival on June 7 and 8 where we will distribute copies.
Thank you to our advertisers and sponsors, whose support has enabled us to distribute the magazine free of charge. And thanks to our dedicated team at the Blade, especially Photo Editor Michael Key, who spent many hours searching the archives for the best images, many of which are unique to the Blade and cannot be found elsewhere. And thanks to our dynamic production team of Meaghan Juba, who designed the magazine, and Phil Rockstroh who managed the process. Stephen Rutgers and Brian Pitts handled sales and marketing and staff writers Lou Chibbaro Jr., Christopher Kane, Michael K. Lavers, Joe Reberkenny along with freelancer and former Blade staffer Joey DiGuglielmo wrote the essays.

The magazine represents more than 50 years of hard work by countless reporters, editors, advertising sales reps, photographers, and other media professionals who have brought you the Washington Blade since 1969.
We hope you enjoy the magazine and keep it as a reminder of all the many ups and downs our local LGBTQ community has experienced over the past 50 years.
I hope you will consider supporting our vital mission by becoming a Blade member today. At a time when reliable, accurate LGBTQ news is more essential than ever, your contribution helps make it possible. With a monthly gift starting at just $7, you’ll ensure that the Blade remains a trusted, free resource for the community — now and for years to come. Click here to help fund LGBTQ journalism.




