Madonna invited her terminally ill younger brother to live in her Los Angeles home during his final months, in a touching gesture after years of public tension, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal
Christopher Ciccone died Friday at the age of 63 in Michigan after staying at his superstar sister’s home in Los Angeles.
A lifelong friend of Christopher’s spoke to Dailymail.com about Ciccone’s final months after mending barriers with the 66-year-old Vogue artist following years of disagreement.
“Christopher had pancreatic cancer and lived at Madonna’s Los Angeles home for over a year before his death,” the source said.
The source noted that “despite their tumultuous relationship over the years,” Madonna “cared for him during his battle with cancer” and “spared no expense to ensure he received the best care and support possible.”
Madonna’s late brother Christopher Ciccone, who died Friday in Michigan at age 63, battled pancreatic cancer in his final months while living at his sister’s home in LA. Pictured in 2008 in LA
Madonna, 66, appeared to put her previous issues with her sibling to rest in his later years. Pictured in LA last year
Amid issues over the years, the siblings grew closer following the death of their older brother Anthony Ciccone from throat cancer in February 2023.
“Their relationship had its ups and downs,” says the source, “but after the death of their brother Anthony, they have become very close.
“Anthony’s passing marked a pivotal moment for the entire family and brought them together in a way they had not experienced in years. In those last months, Madonna and Christopher were so close.’
Madonna and her ‘entire family’ are heartbroken over Christopher’s death. “They’re happy he’s out of pain,” the source said, noting that Christopher has “put up a good fight” amid the health crisis.
Ciccone’s “health had been steadily declining since the previous summer, and as time passed, his condition worsened,” the source said.
Ciccone had reluctantly accepted his fate as his physical health continued to deteriorate, the source said.
“The pain became unbearable towards the end, and although it was incredibly difficult, Christopher had reached a point where he was ready to let go,” the source said.
The source added that Ciccone “had always been very proud of being Madonna’s brother, and everyone around him knew it… but despite the fame that came from being part of such an iconic family, he charted his own path in life.’
Ciccone had already spoken openly about his problems with dealing with his brother or sister in his 2008 memoir Life with My Sister Madonna. Pictured in LA in 2008
The singer and her sibling were photographed at the 1998 Oscars in LA
Ciccone, who had explored the fields of dance, design and art over the years, the latter becoming a refuge in his later days.
“During the last year of his life, he found solace and solace in painting,” the source said. “It helped him through the darkness.”
Madonna had employed her brother in multiple creative capacities until they fell out in 2001 after she hired someone else to direct her world tour, according to the Mirror.
Ciccone had already opened up about his problems with dealing with his brother or sister in his 2008 memoir Living with my sister Madonna.
He said that at one point, after an argument about hitting on him, he sent her a fax exposing his resentment over her behavior toward him.
“I gave up my life to make you the evil queen you are today,” he said. ‘Fifteen years of listening to your b****ing, selfish rants, mediocre talent and a lack of taste that would baffle the ages. You’ve lost all sense of reality… a little respect was all I ever wanted from you, and you couldn’t even get that.’
Madonna took to Instagram on Sunday with several images of her sibling and reflected on their relationship.
“He was the person closest to me for so long,” Madonna said. ‘It’s hard to explain our bond.
Madonna and brother Christopher Ciccone pictured in 1991
“But it came from realizing that we were different and that society would make things difficult for us because we didn’t follow the status quo. We took each other’s hands and danced through the madness of our childhood.’
Acknowledging their years of disagreement, she says, “We haven’t spoken for a while, but… when my brother got sick… we found each other again.”
Madonna said that “the last few years have not been easy” and she was doing her “best to keep him alive as long as possible.”
She added: “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.’