Madonna’s brother Anthony Ciccone dies aged 66
Anthony was one of Madonna's seven siblings
Anthony Ciccone, one of Madonna’s older brothers, has died at the age of 66.
A family member yesterday (26 February) confirmed the news of Ciccone’s passing.
Ciccone was one of Madonna‘s seven siblings and is said to have passed away on Friday night (24 February). His cause of death is unknown.
Madonna’s older brother (the pop star has another older brother called Martin) had struggled with alcoholism and was reportedly homeless for many years.
Ciccone’s brother-in-law Joe Henry broke the news of his death on Instagram, writing alongside a black-and-white photo of Ciccone that he had “exited this earthly plane”.
“I’ve known him since I was 15, in the spring of our lives in Michigan so many years now gone,” wrote Henry, who is married to Madonna’s younger sister, Melanie Ciccone.
Madonna has not publicly commented on Ciccone’s passing, however, BBC News noted that she has ‘liked’ Henry’s Instagram post.
Henry added his Instagram post that Ciccone was a “complex character”.
“God knows: we tangled in moments, as true brothers can. But I loved him, and understood him better than I was sometimes willing to let on. But trouble fades; and family remains – with hands reached across the table. Farewell, then, brother Anthony,” he wrote.
“I want to think the god your blessed mother (and mine) believed in has her there, waiting to receive you. At least for today, no one shall dissuade me from this vision.”
Ciccone at one point became estranged from his family, accusing them of not caring about him. He told the Daily Mail in 2011: “I’m a zero in their eyes – a non-person. I’m an embarrassment. If I froze to death, my family probably wouldn’t know or care about it for six months.”
In 2017 it was reported that he had completed a rehab programme and had reconnected with his family.
The pop icon’s appearance was lambasted online after she introduced Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ ‘Unholy’ performance at the Los Angeles ceremony, with many criticising her fuller face and claiming she was ‘unrecognisable’.
Sharing a fresh photo of herself, the singer since joked that the “swelling from surgery” has gone down.
“Look how cute I am now that swelling from surgery has gone down,” she quipped.