Madonna and her brother were united by their love of dance until her rise to fame came with changes in their relationship. He worked as her interior designer, manager, and more, but claimed she distanced herself from him after marrying her second husband.
Christopher Ciccone, who once worked and lived closely with Madonna, shared a close bond with her until their relationship soured. He later wrote a tell-all book about her, but despite their rift, they reunited when he was ill.
What Was Christopher Hired to Do for Madonna?
Madonna, a musician, actress, and composer, was born on August 16, 1958, in Bay City, Michigan. Her full name is Madonna Louise Ciccone, and she is the older sister of Christopher Ciccone, with whom she eventually developed a strained relationship.
In 1978, she moved to New York City and began her career by studying under choreographer Alvin Ailey. She then formed the pop and dance group the Breakfast Club with Patrick Hernandez Revue.
Madonna at the after party for her Blond Ambition World Tour concert in East Rutherford, New Jersey on June 25, 1990 | Source: Getty Images
The star later collaborated with Stephen Bray, her then-boyfriend, recording disco songs before achieving massive fame in the 1980s. Her younger brother Christopher, born on November 22, 1960, also worked in the entertainment industry as a director, actor, and crew member on several of her projects.
He is known for his contributions to “Madonna: Truth or Dare” (1991), “Madonna: The Girlie Show – Live Down Under” (1993), and “Twisted” (2015). Before taking on these roles, Christopher performed as one of Madonna’s dancers in the mid-1980s.
Madonna and Christopher Ciccone in a photo upload on October 6, 2024 | Source: Instagram/madonna
He performed with her during early club bookings and helped dress her during her initial tours. But, in his book, “Life With My Sister Madonna,” he shared that he was embarrassed about working for her which he refrained from telling his friends.
When asked about it, he said, “Well, technically, it was beneath me. I did it because she needed me, but it bred resentment.” He further explained, “Not many people would have been able to deal with her stuff [she shouted at him a lot].”
Christopher Ciccone in a photo upload on October 6, 2024 | Source: Instagram/madonna
Christopher was eventually promoted to directing his sister’s live shows, including the Girlie Show and Blond Ambition. He also took on the role of managing the interior decoration of all her homes.
Despite his dissatisfaction with being her subordinate, he enjoyed the perks and the feeling of being needed. Madonna and her late brother once shared a tight bond, which later became strained.
Madonna and Christopher Ciccone in a photo upload on October 6, 2024 | Source: Instagram/madonna
Siblings Who Lived Together
Discussing his relationship with Madonna, Christopher once confessed to not being close to any of his other siblings, stating this about the artist, “You know, she was my family.”
After working on the Girlie Show, he set out to tackle life on his own. Before breaking away, Madonna’s brother lived with her on and off from the time she married Sean Penn and during her relationship with Warren Beatty.
Christopher Ciccone and Madonna in a photo upload on October 6, 2024 | Source: Instagram/madonna
The siblings shared an interesting dynamic. Christopher recalled that he was the last person Madonna spoke to at night before bed and the first person she saw in the morning. They even ran together and shared meals like sourdough toast and coffee.
He described their closeness by saying, “I mean, it was a bit like a marriage, it was kind of weird, but you know.”
Christopher Ciccone and Madonna in a photo upload on October 6, 2024 | Source: Instagram/madonna
For years, Christopher’s life was intertwined with Madonna’s. In his autobiography, Rupert Everett illustrated this claiming, “To know Madonna at all, you had to know Christopher. The one was incomprehensible without the other.” But, their bond did not last forever.
The End of Their Bond
Madonna’s relationship with her brother began to deteriorate in 2001 when she suddenly dropped him and appointed choreographer Jamie King as the new director for her Drowned World tour without informing Christopher.
Madonna during her Drowned World Tour in Los Angeles, California, on September 9, 2001 | Source: Getty Images
Around the same time, she married Guy Ritchie, who criticized Christopher’s interior design work. Another reason for their falling out was her brother’s partying and illegal substance use, which went against Madonna’s rules.
In 2008, Christopher released his tell-all book, revealing that he hoped it would help him establish his own identity. He admitted that the book, which many blamed for their rift, ended up being more about catharsis and self-discovery.
Madonna and Christopher Ciccone in a photo dated September 9, 1998 | Source: Getty Images
But it underscored one unchanging reality for him: “I was born my mother’s son, but I will die my sister’s brother.”
That same year, Christopher shared on “Good Morning America” that the cracks in their relationship started showing long before he considered writing the book.
Madonna and Christopher Ciccone at the Disney party following the Golden Globe Awards ceremony on January 19, 1997 | Source: Getty Images
He partially blamed Guy for their estrangement but also felt differently about Madonna after she ambushed him with cameras at their mother’s grave for her “Truth or Dare” documentary.
Christopher remarked, “At one point, if you’ve seen the ‘Truth or Dare’ movie, when she’s rolling around on my mother’s grave — that was a turning point for me in my relationship with her.” He added that he also realized, “‘OK, there are no boundaries now.'”
Christopher Ciccone, Madonna, and Alek Keshishian at the “Truth or Dare” Los Angeles premiere on May 6, 1991 | Source: Getty Images
Christopher was hurt that his late mother became a “bit player in her life story,” and that changed his opinion of Madonna. Yet, he chose not to voice his feelings. While the book wasn’t the sole cause of their estrangement, it was a sore point for the artist.
How Was Christopher’s Book Received?
Madonna was reportedly unhappy with her brother’s unauthorized biography. Before it was released, she reached out to him, worried about its content.
Christopher Ciccone at his book launch for “Life With My Sister Madonna” on August 1, 2008, in Los Angeles | Source: Getty Images
When he didn’t respond, she started contacting their father, Silvio Patrick Ciccone, to persuade him to take sides. Christopher described her actions as “on the low side, if you ask me.”
He speculated about Madonna’s view on the book, saying, “She probably thinks of it as a desperate attempt for attention and money.” He also believed she saw it as a betrayal, but he considered it a Thesaurus, “It’s different ways of defining people and myself — and also as another piece of art.”
Christopher Ciccone at a book signing of his memoir, “Life With My Sister Madonna,” at Book Soup in Los Angeles on July 30, 2008 | Source: Getty Images
Christopher noted that reactions to the book fell into two groups: those who despised him for betraying their idol, and those who felt he hadn’t revealed enough.
While walking through a gay bar once, he heard someone whisper, “Traitor,” which he found “pretty funny.” The fallout from his feud with the celebrity extended beyond mere silence between the siblings.
Christopher Ciccone and Madonna in a photo upload on October 6, 2024 | Source: Instagram/madonna
The After-Effects and End of the Ciccone Feud
After being cut off by Madonna, Christopher lived in a small one-bedroom flat in West Hollywood, Los Angeles. His interviewer in 2009 described it as a cramped space filled with items resembling a junk store.
It housed art books, heavy antique furniture, family photos, and paintings — some created by Christopher himself. The last time he saw Madonna was in 2006 when she sent him tickets to her Miami Confessions show.
Madonna at her Confessions Tour at the Garden in Boston, Massachusetts on June 29, 2006 | Source: Getty Images
She dedicated a song to him, which Christopher described as “quite a nice moment.” But, he later saw it differently, stating, “But it was my sister’s way of publicly showing how kind she is to her family. It was calculated.”
The siblings didn’t maintain regular contact after that. In late 2012, Christopher shared that none of their family members had regular contact with Madonna‘s children, adding, “My parents barely see them. But I have lots of other nephews and nieces who I see all the time.”
Madonna and Christopher Ciccone during the 70th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles, California, on March 23, 1998 | Source: Getty Images
The musician’s brother admitted that writing a tell-all book can damage one’s career but argued that his wasn’t vicious. He found it worthwhile because people were reading it, and more importantly, he insisted, “I didn’t tear our family apart.”
When asked if he missed his sister, Christopher said he missed working with her on her houses and tours. He explained that Madonna wasn’t someone who was a “buddy-buddy” and acknowledged that, despite their previous closeness, she never really knew him.
Christopher Ciccone and Madonna in a photo upload on October 6, 2024 | Source: Instagram/madonna
Christopher admitted, “But I did some of my best work with her, and she did with me, and I miss that part of it.” The famous singer’s younger brother passed away at age 63 on October 4, 2024.
His representative stated he died peacefully from cancer in Michigan, surrounded by his loved ones. Christopher’s husband, Ray Thacker, was one of his survivors who remained by his side during his illness.
Christopher Ciccone and Madonna in a photo upload on October 6, 2024 | Source: Instagram/madonna
Sadly, his death was not the only loss for Madonna’s family in recent months. On September 24, 2024, the star’s stepmother, Joan Clare Ciccone, passed away after a short battle with an aggressive form of cancer.
A few days after his death, Madonna paid tribute to him on social media, sharing several throwback images. In a lengthy post, she reminisced about how close they were, noting how dance kept them bonded and saved them. She also spoke about his gay identity and surviving the AIDS epidemic together.
Madonna expressed admiration for her brother’s great taste and sharp tongue, which he sometimes used against her, for which she forgave him. She acknowledged that they hadn’t spoken for a while, but shared that they found their way back to each other when he became ill.
Madonna shared that she tried to keep him alive as long as she could, but he was in significant pain toward the end. She concluded, “There will never be anyone like him. I know he’s dancing somewhere.💔.”