Madonna is facing a lawsuit from fans after her December Brooklyn concert began more than two hours after its scheduled start time. The pop icon has faced criticism in recent years for frequently delaying her shows, despite tickets costing hundreds of dollars. This latest incident may be the final straw for many previously loyal followers.
Background on Madonna’s Late Concert Issues
Reports of Madonna taking the stage extremely late have plagued her last few tours. During her 2015 Rebel Heart Tour, several shows began over three hours past the printed start time, leading to booing and walkouts. Madonna claimed the late starts were due to complex stage requirements and apologized to disappointed fans.
After a hiatus, Madonna returned in 2023 with her Celebration Tour, promising timely starts. But once again, videos emerged of restless crowds chanting and booing 90 minutes after showtime in various cities.
While some fans defended Madonna’s perfectionism and intricate shows, many called her “disrespectful” and “unprofessional” for the delays. Negative press mounted, putting increased scrutiny on her Brooklyn concerts in December.
Brooklyn Show Finally Prompts Legal Action
Madonna scheduled three Celebration Tour dates at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center – December 11, 12, and 13. On December 13th, the concert was advertised to begin at 8:30pm. However, Madonna did not appear on stage until 11:07pm – nearly two and a half hours late.
Fans Michael Fellows and Jonathan Hadden had purchased tickets ranging from $175 to $575 out-of-pocket. In a lawsuit filed January 18th in Manhattan federal court, they accused Madonna and promoters Live Nation of breach of contract, false advertisements, and negligent misrepresentation.
The lawsuit alleges: “By the time the concert finally began after 11:00 p.m., Plaintiff Hadden had left having lost hope that the queen of pop would ever appear on stage.” It seeks compensation for all ticket holders.
| Ticket Price | Number Sold | Total Sum |
|---|---|---|
| $175 | 2,000 | $350,000 |
| $230 | 1,000 | $230,000 |
| $575 | 500 | $287,500 |
Total Potential Compensation: $867,500
Madonna’s History Bodes Poorly for Her Defense
This is not the first time Madonna has faced legal repercussions for delayed concerts. In November 2022, a Florida judge ruled that she violated a contract requiring her 2019 Miami concert to start no later than 10:30pm. The show began just before midnight.
Madonna tried to blame the late start on weather and equipment issues. However, the judge determined these did not constitute force majeure, an unexpected catastrophic event excusing contractual breaches.
The decision sets a precedent making it difficult for Madonna to dodge accountability with vague explanations. The Brooklyn case also involves concrete start times in advertising materials, which she clearly violated.
Disgruntled Fans Share Growing Disappointment
Diehard fans have shown remarkable patience with Madonna’s chronic tardiness over the years. But as ticket prices skyrocket and late starts routinely pass two hours, many have had enough.
Longtime fan Cheryl Maplethorpe summed up popular sentiment:
“I’ve idolized Madonna since I was a teenager in the 80s. Her concerts represent these amazing, magical shared connections between Madonna and all generations of fans. It’s such a slap in the face when she shows blatant disregard for people spending their hard-earned money and precious free time to see her perform. She complains about ageism and sexism limiting older female artists. But actions like this – failing to respect her fans – unfortunately fuel negative stereotypes. I still love her music, but I’m seriously questioning whether I can justify supporting her live shows anymore.”
Madonna Has Yet to Comment Publicly
Thus far, Madonna has not responded to the Brooklyn lawsuit or issued any statement to fans. She closed the Celebration Tour two days after the controversial Barclays Center show, granting no interviews.
Her legal team will likely try settling the case out of court to avoid a messy public trial. However, the days of Madonna smoothly brushing off criticism appear over. Promoters like Live Nation may also need to reassess their contracts to start holding her financially liable for excessive tardiness.
How these lawsuits resolve could determine whether Madonna mounts another tour. If future ticket sales nosedive due to distrust in timely concert starts, her touring career could face its curtain call. Madonna seemingly never considered how habitually disrespecting fans’ time might foster consequences catching up to her. The Queen of Pop now faces her subjects revolting, threatening the throne she has comfortably occupied for 40 years.
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