Madonna Fall An Old Story

Altmann, who’s something of a champion for older people, turned to the Daily Mail – which attracts a similarly aged readership – to point out that the accident “could have happened to any performer of any age.”

Her comments come ahead of a new report which reveals how unconscious bias or outright age discrimination stops some employers from hiring the over-50s.

Altmann said the media coverage after the fall was typical of the way age is treated. “Much is often made of achievement with a reference to age,” she said. “It’s not uncommon to hear that ‘despite’ someone being a certain age they have achieved something commendable.”

The 56-year-old superstar fell down stairs at The Brits after failing to untie her Armani cape.