
Madonna ended up putting on a performance that was memorable for all the wrong reasons, when she was pulled off the stage backwards as she closed out Wednesday night's BRIT Awards 2015.

With the final, much-anticipated performance of the night singing Living For Love, Madonna failed to untie her cape in time for her dancers to rip it away as she took to the stage at London's 02 Arena.

The 56-year-old looked shocked - and briefly stopped singing - after she fell down a set of stairs, but picked herself back up and continued to the end.

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Turn for the worse: Madonna was pulled off the stage as she performed at the BRIT Awards in London on Wednesday night

Floored: She scrunched her face in anticipation on the rough landing, when she realised that she was not going keep her balance

Explaining the embarrassing gaffe via her Instagram page after coming off stage, the legendary singer laughed off the incident and said her Armani cape was simply tied 'too tight'.

She wrote: 'Armani hooked me up! My beautiful cape was tied too tight! But nothing can stop me and love really lifted me up! Thanks for your good wishes! I'm fine! #livingforlove.'

Ironic lines including 'pick me up' and 'I'm gonna carry on' featured in the singer's performance as she battled to the end in her elaborate matador-inspired costume.

Karlie Kloss was seen turning to best friend Taylor Swift in the audience with a mortified look as onlookers watched the stage veteran tumble and then battle on with conviction.

Madonna appeared to land on her back with a bang after she fell down a flight of three steps mid-performance. She paused for around a minute where she couldn't muster the strength to sing.

But the singer dusted herself off, brushed over her hair and stood up to ascend the steps once again without her cape.

Grounded: The pop superstar was dragged to the ground as she attempted to undo her cape

She fell over: Madonna still had a look of composure when she knew she was heading for the bottom of the steps

Easy does it: Things started smoothly as the star ascended the stairs for her much anticipated finale performance

Unlucky star: She starts off with composure and then gets pulled off from behind when he cape fails to unravel

Wardrobe malfunction: However, when Madonna failed to untie her extra-long cape, she was pulled off the stage with it

Not missing a note: Madonna was forced to pull herself back up as she continued to sing

Insurance claims: Memes erupted on Twitter in the wake of Madonna's backwards fall

The veteran was no doubt disappointed by the incident because she was said to be 'desperate to give the performance of her life' as rehearsals piled on the pressure.

A source said that the blonde bombshell was struggling to get through practise shows and was seen using a vaporiser to soothe her vocal cords to ease her vocal cords.

The source continued: 'She is putting all her efforts into putting on a great show. She is working every hour, day and night, to ensure it will be her part of the show that everyone will be talking and tweeting about.'

Still climbing: The pop star eventually went on her with performance after getting back on the steps

There she goes: The look of horror on Madonna's face was clearly visible as she realised she was about to fall

Hitting the deck: The tumble looked painful as she grimaced while surrounded by her dancers

Can't stop: She was at the mercy of the stairs behind her as she went down on her backside

The show must go on: The pop superstar was visibly shaken as she pressed on with her performance

On the floor: The dancers didn't appear to help her back on her feet but did grapple with her cape to get it off

LIVING FOR LOVE CHORUS - LYRICS Took me to heaven and let me fall down Now that it's over I'm gonna carry on Lifted me up, and watched me stumble After the heartache, I'm gonna carry on Living for love Living for love I'm not giving up I'm gonna carry on Living for love I'm Living for love Not gonna stop Love's gonna lift me up Love's gonna lift me up Advertisement

She was left stunned by the incident but with more than three decades in the business, it didn't appear to affect her performance.

Madonna was making her triumphant return to the BRIT Awards stage after 20 years, when she performed on the annual television show in front of stars including Prince and Oasis.

It had been a much-hyped event by returning presenters Ant & Dec on the night, even managing to overshadow international artists Kanye West and Taylor Swift.

After the show, Madonna's name was certainly on celebrity viewers' minds - perhaps not for the reason that she would have hoped for though.

She was quick to reassure fans that she was 'fine' in the midst of their concern and even praised the beauty of her specially-designed Armani cape.

The singer said: 'Armani hooked me up! My beautiful cape was tied too tight. But nothing can stop me and love really lifted me up! Thanks for your good wishes! I'm fine! #livingforlove'

Stars followed up on social media, full of praise for the star's perseverance after watching her press on - even though she was visibly shaken.

Extra presenter and former Saved By Bell star Mario Lopez took to Twitter in support of the singer, saying: 'Tell you what though not many artists would continue after that fall. Way to go Madonna for being a trooper & carrying on! #Legend'

UK soap star Antony Cotton, who plays Sean Tully in Coronation Street, added: 'All puns aside, Madonna got on with it and showed why she's still on top of her game and also made sure she's the only one on the news #icon'

Grounded: Madonna was laying on the stage for just seconds before pulling herself back up

Getting back up: Undeterred, Madonna rose to her feet and discarded the offending fashion item

She's surfin'! Other meme-creators used the image of Madonna mid-fall to superimpose her onto different backdrops

Dusting herself off: Madonna brushed down her hair and got back up to carry on with her performance like a trouper

Pre-fall struggle: She really had a difficult time undoing the tie on her cape

Carrying on: Pop superstar Madonna picked herself back up after a long pause and carried on defiantly as the audience cheered her on

Hooked me up: Madonna Instagrammed a picture of the Armani cape that was designed especially for her stage performance

Love really lifted me up: Despite the cape bringing about her downfall, Madonna was quick to thank the designer

No capes: A meme from The Incredibles in which Edna Mode dismisses capes in fashion was flying around the internet after the disaster

Defiant: The warrior princess, clad in an extravagant matador-inspired outfit, held her horns triumphantly above her head

Ever the performer: The musician, with more than three decades of experience as a performer, was soon back to full speed

Meanwhile, social media feeds were mainly inundated with posts poking fun at the singer's misfortune as they reflected on her unlucky fall.

It was hosts Ant & Dec who landed the winning joke and jested: 'Ta for all your lovely messages, we really enjoyed it. We're stuck in A&E with @Madonna. Still an hour wait..... #BRITs2015.'

Former Radio 1 DJ Sara Cox also chimed in: 'Madonna was nearly a magonna. What a trouper. Here's @gregjames screaming cos he can see the future.'

Meanwhile, comedian Alan Carr also couldn't resist a jibe, saying: 'That Minotaur that dragged Madonna down the stairs is SO unemployed right now.'

Back on the ground: The 56-year-old star was soon seen writhing around on the floor - but this time it was as she'd intended

Proceed with caution: Madonna's dancers also carried on with their routine after the unfortunate incident

Clever: One meme doing the rounds was a mock-up of the movie poster for Martin Scorsese's Cape Fear, with Madonna's crying eyes

Many Twitter users picked up on the fashion statement Madonna was making with her cape and used a familiar meme from The Incredibles, which quoted Edna Mode when she said 'No capes'.

Gogglebox's Scarlett Moffat, commenting on television as she does best, wrote: 'If we have learnt anything from tonight it's that capes are just not practical evening wear attire #brits #madonna'.

Madonna's outfit was the brain of her stylist B Akerlund and alongside the cape talking point it featured a sleek leather jacket, custom made by Nicolas Jebran, which was embellished with black crystals and ruby stones as well as an 'M' emblem.

Jebran has previously made a splash on the Brit Awards stage creating Katy Perry's custom neon Cleopatra look for her 2014 Dark Horse performance.

Offending fashion item: Madonna arrived shrouded by her elaborate black and red cape on stage with aides pulling it behind her

Words of support: Saved By The Bell star Mario Lopez had some supportive words for the blonde bombshell afterwards

Magonna: Radio DJ quipped that Madonna was nearly 'Magonna' when she watched her fall down the stairs

The last dance: Comedian Alan Carr added that the Minotaur dancer might not have a job by Monday morning

Making light of the situation: Hosts Ant and Dec joked that they were waiting in hospital with the megastar

Back in her stride, the costume allowed the Like A Virgin singer to move around the stage freely and she even pulled some of her racier on stage moves - something that could have had tongues wagging if it wasn't for the unfortunate incident.

Her 1995 performance, in comparison, saw a cleaner version of the singer grace the stage in a white, plunging gown as she belted out her hit Bedtime Stories.

That same year, Ant & Dec - who returned to present the BRIT Awards to host after 14 years – were nominated for Best British Breakthrough Act under their stage name PJ & Duncan.

Their one hit song was Let's Get Ready To Rumble, but suffice to say they did not win.

Two trends collide: EastEnders' murderer Bobby Beale was blamed for the epic fall, and Toy Story's iconic line was also given a look-in

Comic input: Iconic magazine The Beano stole the opportunity to create their own cartoon - featuring Ant & Dec - based on the infamous fall

'Don't cry for me Argentinaaaaaaaaargh!' Cheeky Dennis the Menace event got a look-in in The Beano's special meme

Working it: Madonna knew how to work it like the best of them and overshadowed performances from Kanye West and Taylor Swift

Raunchy: The controversial singer put her racy dance moves into action, something that may have had tongues wagging if nothing had happened

Trust: Madonna put her trust in the dancers' hands but they weren't to know that she wasn't free of her costume

It had been Taylor Swift who opened the BRIT Awards 2015 with a bang on Wednesday night.

The US superstar strutted onto the stage at London's O2 Arena as she performed her single Blank Space to great fanfare, putting on a jaw-dropping and sexy show.

Having swapped her red carpet ensemble for a more stage-friendly outfit, the 25-year-old strutted out in a tuxedo-style playsuit.

Flaunting her seemingly endless legs as well as her powerful vocals, the pop star's smart garment was well-cut to show off her lithe figure.

She covered her long legs in a pair of racy fishnet tights, no doubt to protect some of her modesty due to the dangerously high-cut shorts.

And to go along with the sultry not-so-office friendly get-up, she appeared to be going braless under the deep plunging neckline.

She's here! Taylor Swift opened the BRIT Awards 2015 with a bang, as she performed her hit song Blank Space at the start of the night on Wednesday evening

Sexy moves: The 25-year-old star pulled out her best dance moves while flaunting her fabulous figure and slim pins

Office attire... but not: Taylor's racy tuxedo-style playsuit was certainly not safe for work, as she strutted across the stage with her enviable legs on full show

True professional: The US superstar was flanked by a team of handsome male dancers

Adding some height to her already lofty frame, she donned a pair of towering black ankle boots, giving her serious clout as she worked her way across the stage, alone and with her handsome array of male backing dancers.

And, after wearing her hair in a sweetly-styled pulled-back 'do as she arrived, Taylor let her blonde locks loose, which added extra sex appeal as she shook her head around during her performance while also wearing her statement red lip.

Cutting a stark contrast to her all-black ensemble, her dancers were glad in bright white with black pork pie hats.

Vocal powerhouse: Despite the energetic nature of the routine, Taylor put on an impressive performance of her catchy single

Flaunt it! Taylor added some serious sex appeal with her fishnet tights, while working a messy bob and her trademark red lip

Doing the robot? Some of the star's moves mimicked the old 1980s dance craze

Her performance ended with a vast sprinkling of metallic confetti, raining down on her and the stage as she belted out the last chords of the catchy pop tune.

Her performance went swimmingly as she whipped the audience into a frenzy with her sexy routine.

But hours before it all hung in the balance, as the Shake It Off singer had revealed that rehearsals had not gone to plan.

Stop right now! It may be 18 years since the Spice Girls performed for the first time at the BRIT Awards, but Taylor seemed to pay homage with her routine

Shock and awe: The award-winning star also acted up for the cameras, pulling out some hilarious facial expressions

It's snowing! Taylor and her dancers were then covered in glittering confetti

Leggy display: The popular singer often makes a show of her endless pins, and Wednesday night's performance was no different

Speaking to BBC Radio 1 before her stage moment, she said: 'Its weird I'm your last guest because I am actually opening the show.

'I am changing into a performance outfit then back into this to watch the show.'

She added: 'Rehearsals didn't go well at all, they accidentally started the music before I was on stage, so I was running out shouting 'I can show you…''

BRIT AWARDS 2015 - WINNERS British Male Solo Artist: Ed Sheeran (presented by Rita Ora and Orlando Bloom) British Group: Royal Blood (presented by Jimmy Page) International Female Solo Artist: Taylor Swift (presented by Lewis Hamilton and Ellie Goulding) British Female Solo Artist: Paloma Faith (presented by Mark Ronson) Global Success Award: Sam Smith (presented by Kim Kardashian) International Male Solo Artist: Pharrell Williams (presented by Cara Delevingne) British Single: Mark Ronson (presented by Lisa Snowden and Lionel Richie) International Group: Foo Fighters (presented by John Bishop) British Breakthrough: Sam Smith (presented by Fearne Cotton and Charli XCX) British Artist Video Of The Year: One Direction (presented by Karlie Kloss and Jimmy Carr) British Album Of The Year: Ed Sheeran for Multiply (presented by Russell Crowe) Advertisement

Impressive vocals: Ed Sheeran took to the stage to perform his new track Bloodstream

Casual: The singer stepped out in an all-black ensemble, while he added a splash of colour with red hi-tops

Winning: Ed received a standing ovation following his impressive performance at the star-studded show

Looking ink-redible: The star's casual ensemble of choice allowed him to show off his tattoos

Ray of light: An elaborate set dominated the stage as the chart-topper took to the stage solo

Her jaw-dropping performance came shortly before she was revealed to have won the prestigious International Female Solo Artist prize, beating the likes of Beyonce, Lana Del Rey, Sia and St. Vincent.

After being given her gong by presenters Ellie Goulding and Lewis Hamilton, she appeared overwhelmed as she thanked those closest to her.

'I have been coming to England and playing shows for eight years and this is my first BRIT and I'm so happy. So I want to thank my record label for sticking with me until I won this.

Surprise appearance: Kanye West took to the stage to perform his new single All Day

The squad: He was accompanied by a large crowd of men as he rapped his way through the track

Black to basics: Kanye, and his fellow performers were all dressed in black ensembles

Light it up! A flame-thrower provided bright blasts of light at intervals during the performance

'I wouldn't be here without my British friend who took me to pubs and taught me how to make a good cup of tea.

'I just want to say I love you Ed Sheeran. I also want to thank Cara (Delevingne) and Ellie and Sam (Smith) I'm very lucky to have them in my life.'

She added sweetly: 'My British fans have also changed my life.'

Turning the air blue: The rapper was clearly heard using the word 'n***a' during his performance

Ear we go: Censors managed to blur out some of the expletives, but also missed several

Overshadowed? Ahead of Madonna's performance, Kanye's moment on stage was among the most talked about

Featuring... British grime act Krept and Konan accompanied the hip-hop star on stage

Mixed bag: His performance got visibly mixed reactions from the many VIP attendees at the show

Talented trio: Take That put on a spectacular display as they performed at the BRIT Awards

Cream of the crop: The man-band trio delighted their fans and audience members with their energetic display

Following her performance, her close pal, Ed Sheeran, took to the stage to perform his new track, Bloodstream, for which he received a standing ovation.

Kim Kardashian later stepped onto the stage, where she presented Sam Smith with the Global Success Award, before introducing her husband, Kanye West.

She said: 'I've been watching it all from backstage, ready for this next performance. Before this starts, I want everyone to stand up and get on their feet. Welcome my husband Kanye West.'

Play on, player: George Ezra took to the stage with his trusty guitar in hand as he performed Budapest

What's my name? He sang in front of a large backdrop with his name spelling out

Gotta have Faith: Singer Paloma Faith put on a dramatic performance of Only Love Can Hurt Like This

Great handiwork: Her hands were covered in oily black make-up for the performance

Making it rain: Rain fell on the stage as Paloma wowed the audience with her vocal talents

Dressed in all-black, he then made his way to the stage with a large crowd of men, rapping his way through his latest track All Day as a giant flame-thrower intermittently lit up his performance.

Lionel Richie was seen staring open-mouthed as his expletive-laden performance took proceeded, as did Taylor, which eventually started dancing seductively to the tones of her foe-turned friend.

As the opening performer on the night, Taylor Swift's arrival earlier on in the evening on the glittering event's red carpet was highly anticipated.

And the singer made quite the memorable entrance, when she hit the red carpet of London's O2 Arena in a sleeveless black gown featuring a red dragon embroidered all the way down the back.

While the front of her eye-catching number was decidedly simple, the back featured a sheer upper tier, which was partially covered by the design featuring the fabled creature, stretching from her shoulder to her dramatic train.