Madonna and brother Christopher Ciccone close relationship, estrangement

Madonna and her younger brother Christopher Ciccone had a relationship full of ups and downs, with Christopher going from being her co-worker to an estranged relative over the decades until his death in 2024.

Christopher’s family confirmed this We weekly that the dancer, author and interior designer died of cancer on Friday, October 4, in Michigan, surrounded by family, including his husband, Ray Thacker. He was 63. Christopher was one of Madonna’s five siblings, which also included brothers Anthonywho died in 2023, and Martinand sisters Paula And Melanie. (They also have two step-siblings, Jennifer and Mario.)

After following her to New York City in the 1980s, Christopher worked for his sister as a backup dancer, dresser, and eventually as tour director for The girl show in 1993. However, Madonna’s fame eventually soured their relationship, creating distance and resentment. In a 2008 interview with Good morning Americatold Christopher that he and Madonna previously “were very close brother and sister,” and said it “felt a bit like a marriage.”

Madonna mourned via Instagramin which she called Christopher ‘the person who was closest to me for so long’ in her tribute. “It’s hard to explain our bond,” she wrote. “But it came from realizing that we were different and that society was going to make things difficult for us because we didn’t follow the status quo.”

Keep scrolling to read all about Madonna and Christopher’s ups and downs over the years:

80s

Christopher was deeply involved in the early years of his sister’s career as a dancer, dresser and creative consultant. He shared in his memoirs: Living with my sister Madonnathat he moved to New York City in the 1980s to be her backup dancer, even appearing in the music video for her 1984 single “Lucky Star.”

In an interview with The GuardianChristopher confided that he sometimes found working for his sister “beneath him” after developing his own career as an artist in New York. “I did it because she needed me, but it created resentment,” he claimed at the time. “Not many people could handle her stuff.”

1990 – 2001

In 1990, Christopher was the art director for Madonna’s Blonde Ambition World Tourand returned in 1993 as her tour director for The girl show. However, the ‘Like a Virgin’ singer looked outside the family for the Drowned World Tour in 2001, hiring a choreographer Jamie King as director instead. It was around that time that Madonna got married Guy Ritchie which, according to Christopher, further strained his relationship with the pop star. (Madonna and Ritchie split in 2008.)

1991

Christopher quoted the 1991 documentary Madonna: Truth or Dare as an issue between him and his sister, although he did not bring it up to her when the film was made.

“At some point, when you get the Truth or dare movie, when she rolled around on my mother’s grave, that was a turning point for me in my relationship with her,” Christopher shared Good morning America in 2008. Madonna and Christopher’s mother – also called Madonna – died of breast cancer in 1963.

“I kept it inside, but I thought to myself, ‘Okay, there are no limits now.’ You know, my mother has now become a bit player – a bit player in her life, life story, and it hurt me,” he added. “My opinion of her changed at that moment. I never said anything about it.”

2008

Christopher released his comprehensive autobiography, in which he describes his relationship with the pop icon New York Times bestseller and led to speculation that he and Madonna were not on good terms.

Madonna’s representative Liz Rozenberg told AP at the time she had not read the book, but found it “very disturbing” that Christopher “had decided to sell a book based on his sister.” Four years later, Christopher doubled down in an interview with CBS Newssaying he didn’t “regret” writing the book.

“It gave people the opportunity to see me as a creative person, as an artist and not just as Madonna’s brother, a label that I will carry forever,” Christopher said in 2012. “But I am hopeful that on at some point it will be Christopher Ciccone first. It’s cool…I’m completely happy with who I am.’

2012

In an interview with The standardtold Christopher that his relationship with Madonna was “perfect on a personal level” at the moment, adding: “As far as I’m concerned, we’re good.” He said: ‘We are in touch even though I haven’t seen her for a long time. We are brother and sister again. I don’t work for her, and it’s better this way.’

2023

Christopher and Madonna’s eldest brother, Anthony Cicconedied of respiratory problems and throat cancer. He was 66.

2024

Madonna mourned Christopher’s death via Instagram on October 6, sharing a series of photos of the two siblings over the years.

“These past few years haven’t been easy,” she wrote in a long, heartfelt caption. “We didn’t speak for a while, but then my brother got sick. We have found our way back to each other. I did my best to keep him alive as long as possible. Towards the end he was in so much pain.” She concluded: ‘I’m glad he’s not suffering anymore. There will never be anyone like him. I know he’s dancing somewhere.’