Harry Potter author JK Rowling has stood up for Madonna after the singer was the victim of ageist comments following a fall during her performance at the Brits.

Madonna toppled as she performed Living For Life after a cape malfunction meant she was pulled backwards down three steps.

Ever the professional, Madonna was quick to compose herself, get back up and continue with the song but that didn’t stop people making jokes at the expense of the 56-year-old.

Not so for The Casual Vacancy author JK who tweeted this trend-setter.

Madonna responded, screengrabbing JK’s original tweet for her Instagram account and writing: “Thank you J.K Rowling! So nice to read your words of support! Women supporting Women! Hell to the Yeah!”

Last month, in an interview with Rolling Stone Madonna said ageism against women was “the one area where you can totally discriminate against somebody”.

Madonna on stage at the Brits
Madonna’s neck was yanked back by her cape (Yui Mok/PA)

“No one would dare to say a degrading remark about being black or dare to say a degrading remark on Instagram about someone being gay,” Madonna continues. “But my age – anybody and everybody would say something degrading to me. And I always think to myself, why is that accepted? What’s the difference between that and racism, or any discrimination?

“They’re judging me by my age. I don’t understand. I’m trying to get my head around it. Because women, generally, when they reach a certain age, have accepted that they’re not allowed to behave a certain way. But I don’t follow the rules. I never did, and I’m not going to start.”

Team Madonna indeed.