Madonna scraps Australia tour

By Mark Fordham

Madonna has snubbed her hordes of Australian fans by cancelling her upcoming tour dates in the country.

The performances would have been her first in Australia for 20 years but her concert promoter Live Nation confirmed the cancellation on Tuesday (July 19th) evening. No reason was given for the cancellation.

Madonna had been due to confirm summer dates earlier this month but she delayed the announcement until after the Olympics.

She has also bypassed Australia on her last two tours, citing possible logistical and financial reasons for pulling out. The last time she performed in the country was in 1993.

Madonna's tour has been steeped in controversy as she exposed her breast to crowds in Istanbul last month.

More recently she showed a picture of the leader of the French National Front's leader Florian Philippot with a swastika emblazoned on her face, a move that could have legal consequences.

"Madonna's tour will end in South America in December as planned. That's all we can say," a spokesperson said of the cancellation.