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 – 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. He’s 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. aren’t just complaining about a late start. Oh no, they’re 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! They’re citing all these grievances as examples of Madge’s “flippant disrespect for her fans.” Let’s break it down, shall we?
The Charges:
Our hero, Justen Lipeles, isn’t just whining on Twitter. No, he’s gone full legal eagle, slamming Madonna, her promoter Live Nation, and everyone else involved in her tour with six – count ‘em, SIX – accusations. These include breach of written contract, negligent misrepresentation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false advertising, negligence, and unfair competition. Basically, he’s 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 didn’t grace the stage until after 10:00 PM! And just when you thought it couldn’t 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, there’s more! The fans’ misery didn’t end with the sauna-like conditions. According to Lipeles, the queen of pop wasn’t even singing live – 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. “Forcing consumers to wait hours in sweltering arenas and then subjecting them to risqué performances without warning is the epitome of Madonna’s flippant disrespect for her fans,” Lipeles argued. Ouch!
Warning – 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 ‘Aggrieved’ Fans:
Lipeles believes he and his fellow fans deserve compensatory damages for breach of contract since the concert didn’t start on time. He’s also seeking pre- and post-judgment interests, lawsuit costs, and reasonable attorney fees. He’s even asking for an order to stop these “unfair business practices” and wants a refund for the tickets plus the profits Madonna made from these transactions.
No AC at a Densely-Populated Event?! That’s Gotta Be a Crime!
Seriously, no AC in a packed venue? That’s not just a recipe for disaster; it’s 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 – they were probably just trying to cool down! If Lipeles wins, the disclaimer for future concerts could be longer than the setlist: “Please 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.”
So, stay tuned, concert lovers. The legal dance-off between Madonna and her fans is just getting started, and it’s sure to be a wild ride!
