Madonna calls out concertgoers for watching shows through phones at premiere of ‘Confessions Part 2’

Madonna said what she misses most about earlier eras of live music is the connection between performers and audience

Madonna used the world premiere of her documentary Confessions Part 2 at the Tribeca Festival to deliver a pointed message about modern concert culture, criticising audiences who spend live performances staring at their mobile phones.

Appearing on stage after the screening, the pop icon reflected on how technology has changed the experience of attending concerts and connecting with music. Madonna said she is frustrated by the number of people who choose to watch performances through their screens rather than experiencing them in real time.

“Put your cell phones down,” she told the audience, arguing that constant phone use prevents people from fully engaging with live events and the artists performing on stage.

The singer's comments came during a conversation about Confessions on a Dance Floor, the 2005 album that serves as the focus of the documentary. Madonna explained that one of the things she misses most about earlier eras of live music is the direct connection between performers and audiences before smartphones became commonplace.

According to Variety, Madonna also reflected on the freedom she felt while creating Confessions on a Dance Floor, describing the project as a pivotal moment in her career. The album spawned hits including “Hung Up”, “Sorry” and “Jump”, and remains one of the most successful releases of her career.

The documentary, Confessions Part 2, revisits the making of the album and its lasting cultural impact. The film features archival footage and behind-the-scenes material from the period, offering fans a closer look at the creative process behind one of Madonna's most celebrated records.

During the Tribeca appearance, Madonna spoke candidly about the challenges and rewards of maintaining a decades-long career in music. She also addressed the changing relationship between artists and audiences, suggesting that technology has altered the way people consume entertainment and experience live performances.

The premiere drew a packed audience of fans and festival attendees, many of whom stayed for the post-screening discussion. While the documentary celebrates a landmark chapter in Madonna's career, it was her comments about mobile phones and modern concert etiquette that generated some of the night's biggest reactions.

More than 20 years after the release of Confessions on a Dance Floor, Madonna continues to command attention both for her music and her outspoken views on the state of contemporary pop culture.