Madonna has caused an outrage by purposefully exposing her right breast while performing in Istanbul over the weekend.

A flurry of fans have taken to the internet to criticise her actions and complain that the 53-year-old is too old to be flashing her flesh in such a way.

“Isn’t Madonna a little too old to be flashing nip on stage? With her kids in the background (as they’re performing with her on tour?)” the Daily Mail quoted one online fan as writing.

“Why is Madonna still showing off her tits? No, it’s not sexy to see a woman who could be my grandma whipping her nipple around,” another added.

Even celebrity fans have waded into the debate, with newsman Piers Morgan writing on Twitter: “Most embarrassing, cringe-worthy, desperate moment in the history of music?”

But some fans have been more sympathetic, like Hollywood actress Christina Applegate, who commented: “Reading twitter this am and there r all these tweets about Madonna and her nipple flash. And we are shocked because…?

“What I’m saying is. Its not like Sarah Palin had a nip slip, its Madonna,” she said.

A couple of fans have even pointed out pop queen has gone back on her word from just five months ago.

One wrote: “Madonna last January: ‘You don’t have to show nipples to be interesting. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’re cutting edge if you do, right?'”

Last week the pop star was pictured covering up in an unflattering ensemble as she visited various historical landmarks in Turkey.

But on Thursday evening the singer shocked when she exposed her right breast to an audience of over 55,000 people during a performance of Human Nature at the Turk Telecom Arena in Istanbul.

Caught in the moment of the provocative 1995 hit’s lyrics Madonna undressed herself much to the pleasure of her excited fans.

The 53-year-old took to the stage wearing a white shirt and a pair of pin striped trousers with a cane in hand as she wore her blonde hair in an updo.

As she got into the song she threw her cane to one side and pulled open her shirt displaying a strapped bra top.

She then ripped off the first layer of her bra revealing her lacy lingerie.

In a few suggestive tugs she pulled at her bra straps before pulling the entire cup down and exposing her breast.

The Girl Gone Wild singer who last performed in Turkey almost 20 years ago then quickly turned from the audience, unzipped her trousers and stood with her hand in her pants.

Shortly after she zipped her trouser back up and began singing ‘Like A Virgin’.