Friday, November 22, 2024

Madonna’s brother Christopher Ciccone dead at 63 after battle with cancer

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Madonna’s brother Christopher Ciccone has died. He was 63.

Ciccone passed away “peacefully” following a battle with cancer in Michigan on Friday, his rep confirmed to Page Six on Sunday.

He was surrounded by his husband, Ray Thacker, and his loved ones.

Reps for the Queen of Pop, 66, weren’t immediately available to Page Six for comment.

Madonna’s brother Christopher Ciccone, seen here in 1998, has died. Sygma via Getty Images
He died from cancer in Michigan on Friday. PA Images via Getty Images

Weeks before he died, the siblings lost their stepmother, Joan Ciccone, after “a brief encounter with a very aggressive cancer” on Sept. 24.

Madonna and Christopher once had a tight-knit relationship at the start of her sensational career in the 1980s, as he was appointed as one of her backup dancers.

He also served as the “Like a Virgin” singer’s backstage dresser and show designer, and was famously the art director for his older sister’s “Blonde Ambition” world tour in the early ’90s.

Christopher later became the tour director for the pop star’s fourth concert tour, “The Girlie Show,” in 1993.

Christopher, seen here with his famous sister in 1990, was 63. Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Christopher was previously one of Madonna’s backup dancers. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The siblings’ relationship, however, took a nasty turn in 2008 when Christopher called Madonna out in his autobiography,Life With My Sister Madonna.

In the best-selling book, Christopher bashed Madonna’s ex-boyfriend, Carlos Leon, with whom she shares daughter Lourdes Leon, alleging the pop star hesitated to have a baby with Carlos because she was “not sure he fulfills the intelligence requirement.”

During the “Material Girl” singer’s brief fling with John F. Kennedy Jr. in the late 1980s, Christopher claimed she felt as if she was “repeating Marilyn [Monroe] and the president.”

He was heavily involved in the “Like a Virgin” singer’s tours in the 1990s. WireImage
Christopher bashed his sister in his autobiography, “Life With My Sister Madonna.” WireImage

Christopher also alleged Madonna has a massive photo of herself wearing S&M gear on a bed with a bunch of dead animals hanging in her home for her children to see.

He described the alleged picture as “the creepiest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Years later, the duo reconciled but Christopher was quick to reignite the feud during a 2017 interview with the US Sun.

In the book, he opened up about Madonna’s relationships. Splash News
He alleged the Queen of Pop had a photo of herself in S&M gear hanging in her family home. Alessandro Bremec/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

At the time, Christopher alleged the “Vogue” songstress blacklisted him in Hollywood after his bombshell book, referring to her as “quite powerful” in the industry.

“I could have written that book, the book about how horrifying she is or can be, but I didn’t write that book,” he said.

“I was just looking for a little recognition for the work I’ve done for 20 years with her, that it wasn’t one person.”

The siblings reconciled years later and fell out again in 2017. Madonna / Instagram
That year, Christopher alleged the “Vogue” singer was lost without him being heavily involved in her shows. Madonna / Instagram

Christopher also said Madonna was lost without him and it was “difficult” to watch her perform live.

“Her performance lost its theatricality to me and lost its connection to the audience,” he continued. “That was disappointing. How many tours have there been since ’94? Five?

“It’s difficult to watch them because I know what she’s capable of. It’s all screens and projections and Kabbalah and all this other stuff that the audience doesn’t really connect to.”

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