Madonna Performs at Ex-Husband Sean Penn's 'Help Haiti Home' Charity Gala

After the infamous story of Sean Penn leaving his ex-wife Madonna tied to a chair during their relatively short-lived marriage, it's surprising to know that she came out in support of his Help Haiti Home charity gala. Queen Madge made an appearance at the event in Beverly Hills this past Saturday (Jan. 9) and went as far as to say "I love you" to her ex-husband after she performed. They even arrived at the event holding hands.

Variety reported that Madonna said, "I want to say Sean, I love you, from the moment I laid eyes on you. I just wish you'd stop smoking cigarettes," following her performance.

Further, according to the publication, she played a French tune on a ukulele that was later auctioned for upwards of $300,000. The event hosted a bevy of celebrities and the who's who of the entertainment industry, including Justin Bieber, Lana Del Rey, Pamela Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers finished out the night, playing shortly after Madonna.

Madonna also came out in support of Penn when he was facing a defamation lawsuit from domestic violence allegations made by Lee Daniels, the executive producer and co-creator of Empire. Despite the chair story, Madonna claims that Penn had never assaulted her during their marriage.

"I am aware of the allegations that have surfaced over the years accusing Sean of incidents of physical assault and abuse against me," Madonna said in court papers released to Rolling Stone. It further discounted the other rumor that Penn had hit her with a baseball bat in 1987 as well as denying another false incident in December 1989 that resulted in Penn's arrest for domestic assault and battery.

Madonna and Penn were married from 1985 to 1989 and Madonna will concede that the two had many heated arguments while together, although, "Sean has never struck me, 'tied me up' or physically assaulted me, and any report to the contrary is completely outrageous, malicious, reckless and false."