Madonna’s new album Confessions II is already being hailed as one of her most reflective to date, with the Queen of Pop reminiscing about everything from her early days in New York to her relationships with her late brother and daughter across its 16 tracks.
But what few could have predicted would be that Madonna’s latest release would feature a song inspired by her first marriage.
The Like A Prayer singer was married to three-time Oscar winner Sean Penn between 1985 and 1989, with the two stars’ romance being an infamously volatile one.
Since Confessions II’s release last week, many fans were surprised to discover that Martin Garrix collaboration Bizarre appears to be inspired by this pivotal relationship.
“Movie star, deep blue eyes,” Madonna sings on the opening lyric, in an apparent nod to her famous ex, continuing: “In Hollywood, we’re a perfect prize.”
She then references a figure from her past who “drove too fast” and alludes to a “Shelby Cobra” that “wasn’t meant to last”, with Madonna having gifted Sean one of these sports cars when they were still married.
“Roll out the carpet for us but you won’t share it, I guess you’re threatened by me, you won’t admit it,” she continued. “The little things that you did that madе me want you The fire was so intеnse… who knew love can be so bizarre?”
Already, the lyrics of Bizarre have made it one of Confessions II’s most talked about songs on social media…
So "Bizarre" is about Sean Penn? Ooh, the best part of getting old is you finally don't care about spilling tea
— Ariana Gandhi (@beetkid) July 3, 2026
Bizarre is definitely about
Her first love and love of her life Sean Penn. #confessions2— The Blonde Critic (@theblondecritic) July 3, 2026
Bizarre is about Sean Penn right?
— Levi (@LeviRUClassy) July 5, 2026
Madonna singing about her brother, her mother and step mother, Sean Penn and her children again… over club beats? Oh baby, we are *SO* BEYOND back!!!!! #CONFESSIONSII#CONFESSIONS2pic.twitter.com/2BpFIeTOX5
— Adem (@ademdna) July 2, 2026
Oh, BIZARRE is absolutely about Sean Penn:
Movie star, deep blue eyes
In Hollywood, we're a perfect prize
He drove way too fast
Shelby Cobra wasn't meant to last#Madonna#ConfessionsIIhttps://t.co/dLopvjSsD5pic.twitter.com/YEeVLd5uRL— ʙᴇʟʟᴀᴅᴏɴɴᴀ🪬 (@Quatrehuit2neuf) July 5, 2026
when i noticed Madonna dragging Sean Penn on Bizarre https://t.co/tfdSU8rD8z
— young velvet porcelain boy (@updownsuite) July 6, 2026
I wonder if Sean Penn is chain smoking while listening to Bizarre on repeat…
— Costas Bradshaw (@xoxoGossip_Boy) July 4, 2026
It's interesting that "Bizarre" has a mid-'80s feel, while "Read My Lips" has a late-'90s feel. Madonna met Sean Penn in 1985 and Guy Ritchie in 1998. https://t.co/E0Qga3Z1Wl
— Fellatio Alger (@FellatioAlger) July 5, 2026
This isn’t the first time that Madonna has sung about her marriage to Sean, though.
Her 1985 love ballad True Blue is thought to have been inspired by her then-husband, while the Like A Prayer cut Till Death Do Us Part, released after they’d split, paints a very different picture of their tumultuous relationship.
A decade after her split from the actor, Madonna married for the second time, this time to film director Guy Ritchie.
The two wed in 2000, before finally divorcing after eight years of marriage.
