Madonna is currently embroiled in a legal battle stemming from a lawsuit filed against her in January. Concertgoers Michael Fellows and Jonathan Hadden sued the 65-year-old singer for starting her concert, part of the Celebration Tour, more than two hours after the scheduled start time of 8:30 PM.
The lawsuit, which also targets Barclays Center and Live Nation for the December 13 show in NYC, accuses Madonna of “false advertising, negligent misrepresentation, and unfair and deceptive trade practices.” The plaintiffs argue that the late start made it difficult for fans to “get up early to go to work” the next day. Similar lawsuits have been filed by attendees of her shows in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles.
Amidst this legal turmoil, Madonna has shared new photos from a recent photoshoot. In the images, she poses in a glittering black jacket and a bustier bodysuit, later swapping the jacket for a leopard-print red feathered robe. Her hair is styled into Marcel finger waves, and she accessorizes with fishnet gloves, a bold red lip, deep contours, and thin eyebrows. She cryptically captioned the post, “My babies got a secret …. …. x.”
Earlier this month, TMZ reported that Madonna responded to the class action lawsuit through her lawyers, stating that true fans would know her concerts often start later than advertised. Legal documents obtained by the publication read: “If a fan is familiar enough with Madonna’s concert history to know her performances run for two hours and fifteen minutes, that fan would surely know that Madonna typically takes the stage well after the ticketed event time (after an opening act, set transition, and so on) and plays late into the night.”
With this response, Madonna’s legal team filed a motion to dismiss the suit. However, the plaintiffs later informed the judge that a settlement had been reached. Madonna’s lawyers quickly filed to strike the notion of a settlement from the record, claiming that while settlement talks were ongoing, no definitive agreement had been reached between the singer or Live Nation.
A “False Notice of Settlement” was filed by Madonna’s team, and in a hearing earlier this week, a judge sided with her legal team, agreeing that a clear settlement had not been reached and attributing it to miscommunication. The settlement notice was officially struck from the records, and the case will proceed as before, with the plaintiffs now having until July to respond to her motion to dismiss the suit.
Madonna’s legal team has emphasized that fans of the singer are well aware that she usually starts her shows quite late. This ongoing legal battle has not deterred Madonna from continuing her Celebration Tour, which has been a career-spanning concert and drag spectacular.
Madonna’s recent performances have been a tribute to her 45-year-long career, honoring those who inspired and propelled her success. The shows have been a love letter to her dearly departed friends, family, fellow artists, bands, dancers, fans, haters, and the queer community.
Despite the controversy surrounding her late start times, Madonna’s fans continue to show unwavering support. Videos have circulated online of her “bad behavior,” such as throwing water on fans in the crowd. However, these videos often fail to capture the joy of the fans who were splashed with something that touched their idol’s mouth—a holy water of sorts.
At 10 PM on the dot, Madonna emerged on stage singing “Nothing Really Matters” from her album Ray of Light. The lyrics of the song emphasize reflection and gratitude, themes that have been prevalent throughout her tour. Her voice, often criticized, was strong and clear, proving that she is still a talented musician.
Madonna’s performances have included heartfelt tributes to artists who lost their lives during the AIDS epidemic, such as Keith Haring and Herb Ritts. She also paid tribute to Prince, with the stage glowing purple as her touring guitarist played one of Prince’s signature love symbol guitars.
Despite the ongoing legal battle, Madonna’s Celebration Tour has been a powerful and emotional experience for both the singer and her fans. Her stamina and dedication to her craft are evident, even after battling a bacterial infection that put her in an induced coma less than a year ago.
Madonna’s ability to reinvent herself and continue to captivate audiences is a testament to her enduring legacy. As she continues to navigate the legal challenges and perform for her fans, one thing is clear: Madonna is here to stay.
