Ageist comments about Madonna 's fall at the BRITs could deter firms from hiring older women , a government adviser claims today . Older workers ' tsar Ros Altmann said the reaction to the 56-year-old 's dramatic tumble on stage at the awards ceremony 'encapsulates ageist thinking that is inappropriate ' . It comes ahead of a new report which reveals how unconscious bias or outright age discrimination stops some employers from hiring the over-50s . Scroll down for video . Madonna , 56 , was pulled off the stage as she performed at the BRIT Awards in London last month . Madonna looked shocked - and briefly stopped singing - after she fell down a set of stairs at the BRIT Awards last month . She failed to untie her cape in time for her dancers to rip it away as she took to the stage at London 's 02 Arena . Some onlookers praised her at the time for continuing to sing her new song , Living For Love , as proof of her professionalism after more than three decades in the business . But others argued that the embarrassing incident was proof that she should rethink her stage persona . Mrs Altmann said the media coverage after the fall was typical of the way age is treated . She told MailOnline : 'Much is often made of achievement with a reference to age . 'It 's not uncommon to hear that 'despite ' someone being a certain age they have achieved something commendable . 'The recent example of ageist comments after Madonna fell off the stage at the Brits encapsulates ageist thinking that is inappropriate . 'Falling was nothing to do with her age and could have happened to any performer of any age . ' The pop superstar was dragged to the ground as she attempted to undo her Armani cape which was pulled by a dancer . Madonna later laughed off the incident and said her Armani cape was simply tied 'too tight ' . She wrote : 'Armani hooked me up ! My beautiful cape was tied too tight ! But nothing can stop me and love really lifted me up ! Thanks for your good wishes ! I 'm fine ! ' Ironically her new song referenced a fall . She later told ITV 's Jonathan Ross : ' I 'm never writing lyrics like that again ! The universe was trying to teach me a lesson I guess . ' Older workers ' tsar Ros Altmann said the reaction to the 56-year-old 's dramatic tumble on stage at the awards ceremony 'encapsulates ageist thinking that is inappropriate ' Mrs Altmann 's report , expected to be released tomorrow , will call for urgent action to improve the chances of older workers . It argues that the way in which the media often portrays older people adds to the bias which can put employers off taking on older staff . It includes using pictures of the very elderly and frail to illustrate stories about people in their 50s or 60s . Ministers are also warned that older women are more likely to lose their roles as main newsreaders than men . Mrs Altmann added : 'The majority of people in their 50s and 60s are not old . 'But media stories about older people often use clips or stock images representing much more elderly and frail people . 'Wizened hands and walking sticks are not appropriate depictions of older people and merely reinforce negative discriminatory stereotypes . ' Minister for Pensions Steve Webb said : 'Beyond the age of fifty , people start falling out of the workplace at dramatic rates – but there is a compelling economic and business case for overcoming these obstacles to access this vast untapped talent in the UK labour market . 'The Government has made a good start by abolishing the default retirement age and extending the right to request flexible working . But it is clear that old-fashioned and outdated perceptions still persist . 'From next month , we will be trialling targeted and intensive support for older jobseekers , including rolling out an 'older workers ' champion scheme across every part of the UK , and we are seeing more firms open apprenticeships up for people of all ages . ' I 'd like to thank Dr Ros Altmann for report as a clear call to Government , business and individuals to encourage more older people into employment . '
56-year-old superstar fell down stairs after failing to untie Brits cape . Older worker's champion Ros Altmann insists fall was not linked to age . Reaction to singer 's fall 'encapsulates ageist thinking that is inappropriate ' She says incident 'could have happened to any performer of any age ' New report to warn of 'bias ' amongst employers against the over-50s .