The first halftime show at a World Cup brought together Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Justin Bieber. Millions saw a message of unity, but behind the scenes it was a different story.
According to the Daily Mail, the Queen of Pop and the Canadian singer had strong creative differences. They both wanted to be the center of attention.
“No one wanted to leave feeling like they played a secondary role,” said a source close to the production.
Justin Bieber saw this presentation as an opportunity to show a more sober image, after the criticism received at Coachella. According to the source, he asked for a “clean, controlled and distraction-free” show.
Madonna, on the other hand, was looking for something more ambitious. He considered that a stage of that magnitude deserved an unforgettable show. He also feared that Bieber would steal his thunder.
To prevent the disagreement from escalating, Chris Martin – the organizer of the event – had to intervene. He managed to maintain order and the show was not affected.
The show, which lasted just ten minutes, included a huge visual production, dancers, a live orchestra and the appearance of soccer figures such as Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.
So far, neither Madonna nor Justin Bieber have spoken about the incident. Nor have their representatives issued statements.




