Madonna Breaks Silence on Her Older Brother Anthony Ciccone’s Death
Madonna has spoken out for the first time since her brother Anthony Ciccone died, saying that her older brother "planted many important seeds" in her mind.
On her Instagram Story, the Queen of Pop reflected on how her brother influenced her and how he blew her mind as a young girl. Madonna included in her post a black-and-white throwback photo from the '80s, showing her and all their siblings, PEOPLE reported.
The singer-songwriter also reminisced how her older brother introduced her to Charlie Parker, the concept of Buddhism and Taoism, Charles Bukowski, Richard Brautigan, and Jack Kerouac.
A source told the media outlet that Ciccone and Madonna were "estranged," but the "Material Girl" singer had supported his brother "in every way she could when he was willing to take support."
Madonna also shared the behind-the-scenes clips from rehearsals of her 40th anniversary The Celebration Tour.
She captioned the footage with a "grateful hashtag" and "thank God I have my creative life to inspire me and keep me going," with a red heart emoji. Daily Mail reported that Madonna announced The Celebration Tour in January.
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Anthony Ciccone's Death
Anthony Ciccone, one of Madonna's seven siblings, was 66 years old when he passed away on Friday. He was reported to have struggled with alcoholism for years.
Family members announced the passing of Madonna's older brother. The announcement was then followed by a tribute post by his brother-in-law Joe Henry on Instagram.
Henry shared a black-and-white photo of Ciccone and wrote that Ciccone had "exited this earthy plane." He noted that he has known Ciccone since he was 15 in "the spring of our lives in Michigan."
Henry described his brother-in-law as a "complex character" while saying he loved him and understood the man "better than I was sometimes willing to let on."
The musician added that "trouble fades" and that family remains. Madonna liked the post that Henry shared about her brother on Instagram. BBC News reported that the cause of death of Ciccone is unclear at this time.
Anthony Ciccone 'Homeless'
Anthony Ciconne had an interview with the local news outlet Michigan Messenger in 2011, saying that he had been homeless for more than a year and that his sister was not helping him out.
ABC News reported that Ciccone said in the interview that his family had turned their back on him when he was facing a difficult time.
He continued to say that he started living under a bridge in Minnesota after losing his job at the family-owned winery, Ciccone Vineyard.
Ciccone had fought off alcoholism for years and had numerous encounters with the law. According to Daily Mail, he also claimed that he slept on the streets with "nothing but a sleeping bag" amid freezing cold winters.
He also claimed that he and Madonna "hated each other" since they were young due to "sibling rivalry." In 2017, Ciccone agreed to seek treatment for his alcoholism after years of reportedly refusing to get professional help.
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Written by: Mary Webber
WATCH: Madonna's Brother Anthony Ciccone Dead at 66 - From Entertainment Tonight