Features
Madonna Cancels Final ‘Madame X’ Shows After France Bans 1,000+ Capacity Events To Limit Coronavirus
– Madonna Madame X
Following postponements on the European run of her “Madame X” tour because of production elements and cancellations because of ongoing injuries, Madonna has been forced to call off the final two shows in Paris amid fears of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
The gigs were scheduled March 10 and 11 at the 2,800-capacity Grand Rex.
A message on Madonna’s website March 9 states, “Following official notification from the Office of the Police this morning prohibiting all events with an audience attendance of over 1000, Live Nation regrets to announce the final two Madame X performances previously re-scheduled to 10-March and 11-March are forced to be cancelled.”
The post notes that tickets are refundable at point of purchase and adds, “We regret the disappointment to fans.”
France announced that it was banning all 1,000+ capacity events to help stop the spread of coronavirus. The country has the second largest number of cases in Europe, after Italy, with 1,126 cases and 19 deaths as of Sunday, according to the Associated Press.
Health Minister Olivier Veran said that protests, exams and public transport could be exempt from the band because they are “useful to the life of the country.”
Madonna’s Paris gigs were initially supposed to take place Feb. 18-19 but were pushed back because of “highly specialized production elements.”
The intimate “Madame X” tour in support of her 2019 album marked a special chance to see Madonna play small venues for the first time since the “Virgin” tour, her first one as a headliner in 1985. Since then her tours have taken place in stadiums or arenas.
The European run launched in Lisbon in January, after the fall U.S. run. The opening slate of 16 concerts at BAM Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn, N.Y., in October grossed $9,631,758 from 31,401 sold tickets at the 2,098-seat performance venue.
READ MORE: