The Queen of Pop performed a concert in Denver, Colorado last night and offended several members of the audience by using a replica firearm to the point where they left the show early.

The fake gun is a recurring prop in Madonna's current live stage show - used during the song 'Revolver' - but the gig that took place yesterday (October 18) was less than 15 miles from the location of the shocking summer Batman cinema shooting that took the lives of 12 movie-goers.

Concert-goer Aaron Fransua, 25, told the press: ''We're dancing and all of a sudden people started realising what the song was. We all just stood there. Everybody who was around me all had shock on their face. I heard a lot of 'wows'."

A representative for Madonna and her current MDNA tour has since defended the issue and her use of the pretend weapon, likening it to "'taking out the third act of [Shakespeare's play] Hamlet."

Back in August, Madonna spoke publicly about the use of weaponry in her new set and explained that "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."