Inside Madonna's relationship with her brother Anthony Ciccone as he dies at 66
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: Madonna's eldest brother Anthony Ciccone died at the age of 66 on Friday, February 24, 2023. Musician Joe Henry, who is married to Madonna’s sister Melanie Ciccone, confirmed the news via Instagram on Saturday, February 25.
The 66-year-old had a prolonged battle against alcoholism and was reportedly homeless for several years, at one point living under a bridge in Michigan. Henry's post read, " My brother-in-law, Anthony Gerard Ciccone, exited this earthly plane last evening. I’ve known him since I was 15, in the spring of our lives in Michigan so many years now gone."
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Henry then continued, "As brother Dave Henry (who took this photograph) notes here, Anthony was a complex character; and 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. 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."
Meanwhile, an insider revealed to Page Six, “Most family members had a difficult relationship with him due to his disease [with alcohol]. Madonna helped to support her brother when he would accept that support." "During his final months, he was in contact with family and Madonna, but this past week, he refused the support the rehab facility offered, and it was clear he was ready to move on,” the insider added.
How did Anthony Ciccone die?
Though the official cause of death is not yet revealed, Anthony has been struggling with alcohol addiction for a long time. In 2017, he went through a rehab program and then reconnected with his family. Dann's House founder Karen McCarthy, who ran the rehab program, told Daily Mail, "Anthony loved it at Dann's House for quite a while, and made significant improvements in his life while he was with us. Dann's House does good work with people who are vulnerable. We've seen tremendous, positive results."
The iconic pop star has seven siblings -- Anthony, Martin, Paula, Christopher, Melanie, Jennifer, and Mario.
How was Anthony Ciccone's equation with his sister Madonna and his family?
Anthony once claimed, "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. My father would be very happy if I died of hypothermia, then he wouldn't have to worry about it anymore. He's old school, he grew up in the depression. He doesn’t want me to be me, he wants me to be somebody else. He thinks the way I live is intentional. He simply doesn’t know me."
Regarding his relationship with his sister Madonna, he once said, "Madonna doesn’t give a s**t if I’m dead or alive. She lives in her own world. I never loved her in the first place, she never loved me. We never loved each other," as per Daily Mail.
Anthony also claimed that he never had any family support. He said, "No family backup. When the chips fell, no family backup. I’d rather be working. What would you do under these circumstance when your family has stood against you completely?" Meanwhile, it was Madonna who paid the bill for his two-month stay in a Texas clinic for the rehab program.
Anthony Ciccone's criminal past
When Anthony was 56, he refused to leave the bathroom at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center and then the police were called. One of the officers tried to arrest him on an outstanding warrant for trespass. However, he allegedly confronted the officer in which his face hit the floor, and he ended up with nine stitches. It was also confirmed that Ciccone's blood-alcohol level was 0.40 and the legal limit for driving is 0.08, as per CBS.