Madonna is being sued by fans in New York for starting her concert over two hours late and ending after 01:00.
Two fans say the New York show started more than two hours late and did not end until after 01:00.
The scheduled commencement time for the show on all three nights was 20:30 EST, as indicated. However, on each occasion, the performances did not commence until after 22:30, concluding around 01:00.
The plaintiffs assert that had they been aware of the significantly delayed end times, they would not have purchased tickets. The BBC has reached out to Madonna, Live Nation, and the Barclays Center for their comments on the matter.
In the legal case initiated by Michael Fellows and Jonathan Hadden, it is alleged that numerous ticketholders, attending concerts on weeknights, faced challenges as they had early work obligations and family responsibilities the following day.
The lawsuit targets Live Nation, the promoter, and the Barclays Center, the venue, citing claims of “false advertising, negligent misrepresentation, and unfair and deceptive trade practices.”
Although Mr. Fellows and Mr. Hadden attended the performance on December 13, 2023, the legal documentation points out that similar delays were reported on other nights at the same venue, specifically on December 14 and 16.
The legal documents highlight that the defendants did not provide any advance notice to ticketholders regarding the substantial delays in the concert start times, leading to prolonged waiting periods for the attendees.
According to court documents, Madonna is facing a lawsuit that alleges a consistent pattern of tardiness in starting her concerts, citing instances such as the 2016 Rebel Heart Tour, the 2019-2020 Madame X Tour, and previous tours where she reportedly commenced performances over two hours behind schedule. The legal action seeks unspecified damages from the iconic singer. This isn’t the first time fans have expressed dissatisfaction with Madonna’s punctuality, as evidenced by a 2019 case in which a fan sued over a delayed U.S. show but later withdrew the lawsuit voluntarily, as reported by ABC News. In 2019, Madonna addressed the issue in a social media post, asserting, “There’s something that you all need to understand. And that is, that a queen is never late.”
Madonna’s highly successful Celebration tour, a sold-out extravaganza, showcased over 40 songs spanning her illustrious career. The tour was a commemoration of the 40th anniversary of her iconic breakout single, Holiday, and took place in various venues across the United States, Canada, and Europe.
In a health-related incident last summer, the singer faced a critical situation when she was discovered unconscious in her New York apartment in June. Following a swift hospitalization, Madonna received treatment for a severe bacterial infection. Reflecting on the ordeal, she expressed gratitude for being “fortunate to be alive” and subsequently pushed back the tour’s original July start to October of the same year.
Read More: Gig ticket touts made £6.5m from music lovers, court hears
3 Comments