The Material Girl herself, Madonna, is facing some seriously spicy lawsuits from coast to coast! Earlier this year, our queen of pop got slapped with not one, but TWO lawsuits from concertgoers in New York and Washington DC, all because her Celebration Tour was fashionably late โ by more than two hours. But wait, the drama doesn’t stop there! Now, West Coast fans are diving into the legal mosh pit with plaintiff Justen Lipeles leading the charge. Heโs filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of himself and every California fan who felt bamboozled and bopped into buying those pricy Madonna tickets. (Okay, I added the exclamation point, but it really spices things up, right?)
Lipeles & Co. arenโt just complaining about a late start. Oh no, theyโre turning up the heat with claims that Madonna turned down the AC, leaving them sweating like they were in a sauna, and bombarded them with some raunchy visuals. And to top it all off, she was lip-syncing! Gasp! Theyโre citing all these grievances as examples of Madgeโs โflippant disrespect for her fans.โ Letโs break it down, shall we?
The Charges:
Our hero, Justen Lipeles, isnโt just whining on Twitter. No, heโs gone full legal eagle, slamming Madonna, her promoter Live Nation, and everyone else involved in her tour with six โ count โem, SIX โ accusations. These include breach of written contract, negligent misrepresentation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false advertising, negligence, and unfair competition. Basically, heโs throwing the whole book at them!
Hot & Bothered:
Lipeles claims that Madonna and Live Nation “purposely and deceptively” failed to inform ticket buyers about the impending issues. So, he showed up bright and early at the Kia Forum on March 7, 2024, all ready to groove at 8:30 PM as promised. Instead, the concert diva didnโt grace the stage until after 10:00 PM! And just when you thought it couldnโt get any worse, she allegedly demanded the AC be turned off. Fans were sweating bullets, feeling more like they were in a Bikram yoga class than a concert, and some even got physically ill. Despite the heat, Madonna allegedly told them to strip down if they were too hot. Yikes!
Lip-Syncing & Topless Dancers & Flippant Disrespect, Oh My!
But wait, thereโs more! The fansโ misery didnโt end with the sauna-like conditions. According to Lipeles, the queen of pop wasnโt even singing live โ she was lip-syncing! And the entertainment? It featured topless dancers simulating sex acts. This unexpected turn of events made some fans feel like they had accidentally wandered onto the set of an X-rated film. โForcing consumers to wait hours in sweltering arenas and then subjecting them to risquรฉ performances without warning is the epitome of Madonnaโs flippant disrespect for her fans,โ Lipeles argued. Ouch!
Warning โ The Concert You Are Purchasing a Ticket for May Not Begin On Time:
Lipeles insists that Madonna and her tour promoters knew her penchant for being fashionably late and should have given fans a heads-up. He even pointed out that during her Madame X Tour in 2019, fans were notified in advance about possible late start times.
Lipeles Wants Damages for Himself and Other โAggrievedโ Fans:
Lipeles believes he and his fellow fans deserve compensatory damages for breach of contract since the concert didnโt start on time. Heโs also seeking pre- and post-judgment interests, lawsuit costs, and reasonable attorney fees. Heโs even asking for an order to stop these โunfair business practicesโ and wants a refund for the tickets plus the profits Madonna made from these transactions.
No AC at a Densely-Populated Event?! Thatโs Gotta Be a Crime!
Seriously, no AC in a packed venue? Thatโs not just a recipe for disaster; itโs practically a crime against humanity! It’s a health hazard for the audience and the dancers busting their moves on stage. No wonder they were topless โ they were probably just trying to cool down! If Lipeles wins, the disclaimer for future concerts could be longer than the setlist: โPlease be advised, in purchasing a ticket to this performance, you acknowledge and consent to a long, unpredictable wait time for the show to start, uncomfortably hot conditions, and being exposed to and encouraged to participate in nudity. Music makes the people come together.โ
So, stay tuned, concert lovers. The legal dance-off between Madonna and her fans is just getting started, and itโs sure to be a wild ride!