Madonna wages war on Instagram over nude post

Madonna. Photo / Getty Images

Madonna has launched an attack on photo-sharing site Instagram over its rules on nudity after it removed an image of her posing topless.

The 56-year-old responded to the censorship by posting a fully nude photo of herself to her 3.5 million followers with just her nipples covered.

Beneath the sultry image, the singer wrote the caption: "Why is it ok to show ass but not breasts? Drowning in the hypocrisy of social media #artforfreedom #unapologeticbitch #rebelheart"

The picture had received more than 47,500 likes just six hours after it was posted.

Instagram's rules state that users may not post "violent, nude, partially nude ... pornographic or sexually suggestive" photos.

The site has long been accused of hypocrisy, with critics claiming it permits posts of young women wearing very little.

Instagram came under fire last week after a photographer effectively made the site suggest that periods were not appropriate.

Rupi Kaur posted a photograph of a fully clothed woman lying in bed with a period stain on the social media site.

Instagram deleted the picture twice, saying did not follow its community guidelines.

Meanwhile, despite gaining much support on Instagram for her latest image, Madonna has been criticised for pledging her support to a new music platform launched to rival Spotifiy.

Jay Z's new music streaming service Tidal, which is designed to make money for artists, has received backing from the Like A Virgin singer, as well as Beyonce, Rihanna and Alicia Keys.

Music fans took to Twitter to condemn the money-making venture and its supporters as an attempt to make millionaire artists even richer.

Madonna, who fell from a podium during a performance at the Brit Awards in February, has been promoting her latest album Rebel Heart.