Madonna Faces Lawsuit Alleging Pornography Without Warning and Late Starts During Celebration Tour
ICARO Media Group
Madonna finds herself in legal trouble once again as she faces a lawsuit filed by concertgoer Justen Lipeles, who accuses the iconic singer of subjecting audiences to "pornography without warning" during her recent Celebration Tour. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles, also names Live Nation and four California concert venues as defendants.
Lipeles claims that Madonna's concert included explicit content, such as "topless women on stage simulating sex acts," which allegedly shocked and upset attendees, including Lipeles' 11-year-old sister. He further alleges that Madonna demanded the air conditioning be turned off, resulting in an uncomfortable and sweltering environment, causing him to become physically ill.
Moreover, Lipeles states that Madonna lip-synced her performance, and the show started over an hour later than the advertised time of 8:30 p.m. This is not the first time Madonna has faced allegations of a late start, as she was previously sued over a similar claim in New York earlier this year.
In his lawsuit, Lipeles accuses Madonna of negligent misrepresentation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false advertising, and breach of written contract specifically related to her Kia Forum concert in Los Angeles on March 7. Lipeles argues that all of Madonna's California concerts began late, including performances at the Forum Entertainment, Kia Forum, Acrisure Arena, the Golden 1 Center, and Chase Center.
Representatives for Madonna and Acrisure Arena have not commented on the lawsuit thus far. Lipeles' attorneys at Lipeles Law Group released a statement expressing their client's shock and discomfort, particularly with the explicit content that was allegedly presented without any warning to the audience, including children.
Madonna's Celebration Tour, which commenced in October 2023 after delays due to her recovery from a viral infection, recently reached its grand finale with a record-breaking show on May 4 at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The concert drew an astounding attendance of 1.6 million fans, solidifying Madonna's status as a cultural icon.
While Madonna's legal team, Live Nation, and Barclays Center have previously argued that concert start and end times can vary based on numerous factors, Lipeles' lawsuit claims that it is unreasonable for concertgoers to predict such variances, regardless of what is indicated on event tickets.
As the lawsuit progresses, Lipeles' attorneys have mentioned their intention to make slight amendments to the complaint. Madonna, who has had a long and controversial career, now faces the legal implications of allegedly subjecting her audience to explicit content without warning and for a show that started later than advertised.