Madonna - MDNA Tour: Madonna apologizes to Australian fans for skipping Australia

Madonna - MDNA Tour: Madonna s'excuse auprès des fans australiens d'annuler l'Australie.

From CBS News:

August 27, 2012 12:11 PM
Madonna to Australian fans: "I am really and truly sorry"

(CBS News) Madonna has issued an apology to her fans in Australia for bypassing the country once again on her world tour.
It's been 20 years since Madge booked a tour Down Under and that won't change with her current "MDNA" outing, which wraps at the end of the year. Madonna said she decided to cap her seven-month tour at the end of 2012 so she "could spend time with my children who need me."
"So, I just want 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," Madonna explained in recorded audio message, posted on her website. "I know the last time I was on tour, I missed Australia as well, and I can promise you in my heart of hearts that it was my intention to come again, but like the last time, my children are my first priority."
The 54-year-old singer said she has to weigh two different scales: her job as a mother and her job as an entertainer.
"Because my children are older, I can't take them on the road with me everywhere," she said. "I have to spend more time away from them and at the end of the year I really feel that I would be an irresponsible parent if I didn't stop my tour and spend time with them."
"I know a lot of you are angry with me, upset with me, disappointed," Madonna continued before promising to put on "the greatest show on Earth" when she does get around to visiting Australia, which she hopes is "very soon."
The Australia leg was expected to be tacked on at the beginning of 2013. Madonna's tour will wrap in Argentina on Dec. 22.
Madonna's "MDNA" tour has been making headlines all over the world this summer. She caused a stir after throwing her support behind punk rock group Pussy Riot and for taking aim at France's National Front political party.

From Billboard:

Madonna Apologizes for Skipping Australia on 'MDNA' Tour
by Sarah Maloy, N.Y. | August 27, 2012 11:00 EDT

Madonna hasn't been to Australia in almost 20 years, and the "Girl Gone Wild" star again skipped the country when scheduling her "MDNA" tour, which kicked off in Israel on May 31. On Sunday, Madge issued an audio message to fans in Australia, apologizing for once again leaving their country off her tour schedule.
"I just want to say to all of my Australian fans that I am really and truly sorry to have disappointed you," she said. "I know the last time I was on tour, I missed Australia as well, and I can promise you in my heart of hearts that it was my intention to come again, but like the last time, my children are my first priority."
Although it was announced in February that Madonna would be performing in Australia, Live Nation confirmed in July that the "MDNA" tour would wrap in South America in December after traveling through Asia, Europe and North America. Madonna was last in Australia for the "Girlie Show World Tour," with a final performance on Dec. 4, 1993 in Sydney.
The Queen of Pop continued her explanation to fans, saying that it was "a really hard decision" to make. "Because my children are older, I can't take them on the road with me everywhere," she said. "I have to spend more time away from them and at the end of the year I really feel that I would be an irresponsible parent if I didn't stop my tour and spend time with them."
Madonna concluded her message by asking fans to "please forgive" her and promising that when she does visit Australia, she will have made the wait worth their while and will "put on the greatest show on earth."
The "MDNA" tour has already spurred multiple controversies -- with Madonna flashing audiences, offending the Front National party in France, and speaking in support of jailed Russian feminist punk band Pussy Riot -- yet it has been a financial success.
Ticket sales revenue from the first 11 venues on the tour schedule totaled $49.5 million from 417,448 sold tickets. The tour opened in Israel on May 31 with a crowd of 33,457 in attendance. She wrapped a European leg on Aug. 21 in Nice, France and kicks off her North American run on Tuesday (Aug. 28) in Philadelphia. After a pair of shows in Miami on Nov. 19 and Nov. 20, the tour moves into Mexico and South America, wrapping on Dec. 22 in Argentina.

From Rolling Stone:

Madonna Apologizes to Australian Fans for Canceled Shows
'My children are my first priority,' singer says in audio message
By Rolling Stone
August 27, 2012 12:10 PM

After canceling the Australian leg of her MDNA tour, Madonna has posted an audio message to fans on YouTube apologizing for the nixed shows. "I am really and truly sorry to have disappointed you and that's something that I don't feel very good about," she begins. Though she had thought about writing a letter, Madonna says, she thought the audio clip would be a more direct way to reach fans.
"My children are my first priority," Madonna explains, describing the difficulty of balancing her jobs as a singer and mother. Because her children are older, Madonna notes, she cannot take them on the road with her constantly, and says she would feel like an "irresponsible parent" if she didn't take time at the end of the year to be with them.
"I don't take your love and your support for me for granted," she says as she wraps up her statement. "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. I haven't forgotten about you."
Madonna's Australian leg would've been her first shows in the country in 20 years.