Madonna 'cries on stage' and dedicates song to Rocco amid custody dispute

A High Court judge in London will continue analysing the legal battle today

Singer Madonna performs during her 'Rebel Heart' tour at the Forum on October 27, 2015 in Inglewood, California (Getty)

Madonna began crying during a concert which saw her perform in front of a large projected image of her son Rocco while on stage in Melbourne, it has been reported.

The singer is currently involved in a custody dispute with her ex-husband, and Rocco’s father, Guy Ritchie after their 15-year-old son left the singer’s Rebel Heart tour to live with his father in England. On Thursday, Ritchie, his wife Jacqui and Rocco attended a private High Court hearing in London where a judge began to oversee the dispute.

Madonna did not attend the hearing as she was in Melbourne, Australia. She later performed a one off show called “Tears of a Clown” in the city. The gig saw the 57-year-old arrive on stage on a children’s tricycle before performing an array of songs.

One of these was “Intervention” which she dedicated to her son by performing in front of a projection of his face. According to the BBC, she introduced the song by tearfully telling the crowd: “There’s no end to the mistakes I’ve made. Everybody knows the saga of me and my son Rocco. It’s not a fun story to tell or think about.

“I probably could have enjoyed myself a little bit more on this tour if he hadn’t disappeared so suddenly, and also if I knew when I would see him again. I want to dedicate this next song to him, to Rocco.”

Just a week ago Madonna became visibly upset during a performance in New Zealand when she dedicated the song “La Vie en Rose” to Rocco and told the audience: “I hope he heard this somewhere and knows how much I miss him.”

Last week a New York judge urged both Madonna and Ritchie to settle the custody dispute quickly and privately for the sake of their son.

“No one is disrupting his household other than the inability of the parents to reach a resolution,” she told both parents who dialled into the hearing internationally. “If they cannot resolve this matter then eventually the court will.”

The High Court hearing in London continues today.

The Independent has contacted Madonna for comment.