Madonna Breaks Silence After She Was Taken to the ICU With Infection

Singer Madonna issued her first public statement after it was reported that she was hospitalized in an intensive care unit with a bacterial infection.

In a statement on social media, Madonna, 64, said that she is “incredibly grateful for all the blessings in my life.”

“My first thought when I woke up in the hospital was my children,” the longtime pop singer said along with a photo of herself. “My second thought was that I did not want to disappoint anyone who bought tickets for my tour. I also didn’t want to let down the people who worked tirelessly with me over the last few months to create my show. I hate to disappoint anyone.”

The singer, born Madonna Louise Ciccone, added that “I assure you, I’ll be back with you as soon as I can,” according to the post.

Last month, her manager Guy Oseary wrote on Instagram that the singer had spent several days in an intensive care unit after becoming ill days before that, adding at the time that she’s expected to make a full recovery. A lengthy tour was set to kick off in Vancouver on July 15.

Live Nation confirmed the tour postponement, citing Mr. Oseary’s post.

The Celebration tour is scheduled to make stops in Detroit, Chicago, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Denver, Atlanta, and Boston, among other cities, and its first leg was slated to end on Oct. 7 in Las Vegas. Mr. Oseary said details about rescheduled dates would be shared soon.

Mr. Oseary, 50, also posted to social media that the “Material Girl” singer had developed a “serious bacterial infection” that needed treatment. But he added that Madonna was seeing “improving” health. He did not disclose the type of bacterial infection or how she developed it.

In the meantime, however, there were numerous articles with spurious sourcing that claimed Madonna was in a coma or was on the verge of death amid her hospitalization. One, published by the New York Post, claimed that she was given opioid-reversal agent Narcan, or naloxone, to be revived.

However, the report said that the drug was not used because she was taking drugs but because she was in the throes of septic shock, and it added there was no evidence she overdosed on opioids. Neither Madonna nor her manager have publicly commented on that report or others speculating about her health.

In response to her message posted on social media, the singer received a flood of support, including from fellow singers and celebrities. “We are with you all the way, Madonna,” wrote socialite and fashion designer Donatella Versace on Monday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.