“I know he’s dancing somewhere”: Madonna pays tribute to brother Christopher Ciccone after death, aged 63

Madonna has emotionally paid tribute to her late brother Christopher Ciccone, saying he was the “closest human to me for so long”.

Ciccone died on 4 October after being diagnosed with cancer.

An artist, designer and interior decorator, he memorably appeared in his sister’s music video for ‘Lucky Star’, created the single artwork for ‘Like a Prayer’ and served as the art director for her iconic Blond Ambition Tour in 1990.

In her post on Instagram, Madonna detailed their history and love for one another alongside a carousel of various photos of them throughout the years.

“It’s hard to explain our bond,” she wrote. “But it grew out of an understanding that we were different and society was going to give us a hard time for not following the status quo.

“We took each other‘s hands and we danced through the madness of our childhood. In fact dance was a kind of superglue that held us together.”

The pop icon revealed that their mutual love for dance in their “small Midwestern town” saved them, and their ballet teacher “created a safe space” for Ciccone to be gay, “a word that was not spoken or even whispered we lived”.

When Madonna decided to pursue a career as a dancer, her brother followed and “again we took each other’s hands, and we danced through the madness of New York City”.

“We devoured art and music and film like hungry animals,” she continued. “We were in the epicenter of all of these things exploding. We danced through the madness of the AIDS epidemic. We went to funerals and cried, and we went dancing.

“We danced together on stage in the beginning of my career and eventually, he became the Creative Director of many tours. When it came to good taste, my brother was the Pope, and you had to kiss the ring to get his blessing.

“We defied the Roman Catholic Church. The police, the moral majority and all authority figures that got in the way of artistic freedom. My brother was right by my side.”

Madonna went on to describe her brother as a “visionary” who had “impeccable taste and a sharp tongue, which he sometimes used against me but I always forgave him”.

Although the duo had a fractured relationship for some time, Madonna said they “found our way back to each other” following his cancer diagnosis.

“He was in so much pain towards the end,” she concluded her post. “Once again, we held hands, we closed our eyes and we danced together. I’m glad he’s not suffering anymore. There will never be anyone like him. I know he’s dancing somewhere.”

Madonna’s post was met with love and support from stars such as Asia Argento, Donatella Versace, Elizabeth Banks, Katy Perry, Julia Fox, Gwen Stefani, LaToya Jackson, Marc Jacobs, Michelle Visage, Pabllo Vittar, Sevdaliza and Zoe Saldana.

You can view Madonna’s powerful tribute to her late brother Christopher Ciccone below.

 

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