Madonna Tells Australia She’s Sorry

BBC News reported July 18 that promoter Live Nation had confirmed the Australian tour, which would have been her first in 20 years, has been canceled. No dates had been officially scheduled.

The broadcast news organization noted that some people had speculated Australia was once again being left off Madonna’s tour routing because of “high ticket costs and a crowded concert market.” And although the Australian press had suggested venues in Sydney and Melbourne had already been booked for 2013, a representative for Madonna told the BBC News that the tour was ending in South America in December.

In the audio clip posted on Madonna’s website, the pop star said she wanted “to say to all of my Australian fans that I am really and truly sorry to have disappointed you, and that’s something that I don’t feel very good about.”

She promised that in her “heart of hearts” she had planned on coming to Australia during the MDNA Tour but it once again wasn’t going to work out because she needed to spend time with her children. Madonna noted that are children were older and she could no longer take them on the tour with her.

“Please forgive me and know that when I do come to Australia I will have made the wait worth your while and I will put on the greatest show on earth. And I haven’t forgotten about you. I hope that you can understand and forgive me. And also, I just want to say that I love you, all of you – everyone in Australia. And I hope to get there very soon.”

The North American leg of Madonna’s tour kicks off Tuesday, Aug. 28 in Philadelphia at the Wells Fargo Center. In November she’ll head to South America for shows in Colombia, Brazil, Argentina and Chile.