Two disgruntled concertgoers, Michael Fellows of Brooklyn and Jonathan Hadden of the Bronx, are taking legal action against pop icon Madonna, along with Live Nation and Barclays Center, over allegations that the “Celebration” tour concert started significantly later than the advertised time, causing inconvenience and financial repercussions. The lawsuit, filed in Brooklyn federal court, claims that despite the tickets specifying an 8:30 p.m. start, Madonna did not take the stage until well past 10:45 p.m. The plaintiffs argue that this delay resulted in limited transportation options after the show, increasing costs and causing difficulties for those with early morning commitments.
The legal action is seeking class action status, suggesting that other attendees of the “Celebration” tour faced similar issues. The crux of the complaint revolves around what Fellows and Hadden perceive as “unconscionable, unfair, and/or deceptive trade practices.” They contend that the organizers promised a specific start time while knowing that Madonna would not commence her performance at the advertised hour. Moreover, the claim alleges a breach of contract, asserting that the discrepancy between the promised and actual start times constitutes a violation of the agreement between the artists, the organizers, and the ticket purchasers.
This is not the first time Madonna has faced legal challenges over late starts to her concerts. In 2019, during her “Madame X” tour, she encountered multiple lawsuits on similar grounds. Nate Hollander, a Florida man, sued Madonna and Live Nation in 2019 for rescheduling a concert two hours later, making it impossible for him to attend. However, Hollander voluntarily dismissed the suit a month later. Additionally, during the same tour, Andrew Panos and Antonio Velotta filed a lawsuit in 2020, claiming that the singer started her Brooklyn shows more than two hours later than the ticketed start time. This lawsuit reached a settlement, and the case was voluntarily dismissed in July 2020.
While concert delays are not uncommon in the entertainment industry, the legal action against Madonna underscores a growing trend of dissatisfied attendees seeking compensation for perceived breaches of contract. The plaintiffs argue that artists and organizers must be transparent about performance schedules to prevent financial and logistical hardships for concertgoers, especially when early start times are advertised. As the lawsuit unfolds, it will be interesting to see if it gains class action status and whether other individuals join in the claim against Madonna, Live Nation, and Barclays Center, potentially setting a precedent for addressing late starts in the live entertainment realm.