New York, USA – Two Madonna fans from New York have filed a lawsuit against the pop star for starting her concert late, claiming that it affected their ability to fulfill their family responsibilities the following day. The concert, part of Madonna’s Celebration Tour, was scheduled to begin at 8:30 pm but reportedly started two hours later than planned. The fans, Michael Fellows and Jonathan Hadden, argue that they had to “get up early” the next morning and the delayed show disrupted their lives.
The lawsuit, filed in a Brooklyn federal court, also targets concert promoter Live Nation and the Barclays Center for alleged false advertising and unfair trade practices. Fellows and Hadden claim that Madonna has a history of starting her concerts late, including her previous tours like the Rebel Heart Tour and the Madame X Tour. This is not the first time the singer has faced legal action for delaying her shows; a fan from Florida sued her in 2019, arguing that the delays breached their contract.
According to the legal documents, the delayed concert left Fellows and Hadden stranded late at night, with limited transportation options available. They also mentioned increased transportation costs incurred due to the late end of the show, which reportedly finished at 1 am. Both Madonna and the other defendants have yet to respond to the lawsuit.
In November 2019, Madonna seemingly addressed fan complaints about her tardiness in a video posted on social media. In the clip, she told her fans, “There’s something that you all need to understand. And that is, that a queen is never late.” However, the fans’ lawsuit suggests that her habitual lateness has caused frustration among concertgoers.
Notably, Madonna’s Celebration Tour faced setbacks in 2020 when it had to be postponed due to the singer’s hospitalization for a serious bacterial infection. The tour eventually kicked off in October 2023, months later than originally planned. Madonna, who has six children, expressed her concern for not disappointing her fans after waking up in the ICU.
This latest lawsuit against Madonna highlights the ongoing debate about artists’ punctuality and their responsibility towards their audience. Concertgoers expect performers to adhere to scheduled start times, while artists may argue for flexibility and creative freedom. The outcome of the lawsuit could have implications for the concert industry as a whole.