Madonna plays Denver, offending some with gun antics

Madonna played a sold-out concert at the Pepsi Center on Thursday, October 18, 2012. (Seth A. McConnell | HeyReverb.com)

Madonna played Denver's Pepsi Center last night, and while for many the show was vintage Madonna (skimpy outfits, high production values, mediocre singing), some fans were offended by a scene in which she brandished guns.

The Denver area has seen a season of intense violence including the movie theater shooting in Aurora in July and this week's shooting and arson at a Denver bar. And so for some, Madonna's on-stage antics, in which she shot at imaginary criminals and waved fake guns at the audiencwere perceived as insensitive.

Channel 9 KUSA reported that several fans called the station to complain.

Other fans weren't offended. "We can't let a psycho's actions determine how entertainers are allowed to perform," said Mark Douglass of Denver, who attended the show.

In August, Madonna told Billboard Magazine, "It's true there is a lot of violence in the beginning of the show and sometimes the use of fake guns - but they are used as metaphors. I do not condone violence or the use of guns. Rather they are symbols of wanting to appear strong and wanting to find a way to stop feelings that I find hurtful or damaging. In my case it's wanting to stop the lies and hypocrisy of the church, the intolerance of many narrow minded cultures and societies I have experienced throughout my life and in some cases the pain I have felt from having my heart broken."